tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91833438465244348942018-03-06T10:32:36.694+00:00more than wordsA blog depicting my life, my loves, and my views. Enjoy...Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-17510958870652824892017-04-13T22:54:00.000+01:002017-07-12T10:42:52.606+01:00An A to Z of Life in Your 20s... <div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Life in your 20s can be a complete roller-coaster.&nbsp;</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Many say it was the best era of their life, many say it was their worst.&nbsp;</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">But generally, a lot of things can be learnt and taken from being a twenty-something, hence the abundance of self-help/feminist/anecdotal books that were written by people in their twenties or contain reflections of experiences that occurred during those years.&nbsp;</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Being a 25 year old young woman in an ever-changing society with a number of life-changing and life-affirming experiences under my belt over the last few years, I thought I'd publish an A-Z blog based on my own encounters that will help illustrate a truthful reflection of life as a twenty-something...</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>A </b>- Alcohol</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="192" src="//giphy.com/embed/8IBsuP5ie1shq" width="480"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">So this is probably something you'd actually expect to see in a late-teenager's A-Z and obviously isn't something that will relate to everyone, however for me, this is definitely a key indicator and a key part of life in my twenties.&nbsp;</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">By now, you actually quite like alcohol, as opposed to just drinking it because everyone else does and because apparently its cool. Your tastes have probably matured and become much more sophisticated, ditching the offy's cheapest option for more tasteful tipples like wine and gin (see G) and you can actually afford cocktails that aren't £5 a jug from Spoon's. However, along with that, if you're anything like me, your hangovers will have amplified too. Gone are the days when you can roll out of bed before 9 and rush to a lecture before scranning a Full English, now you wake up somewhere around lunch with a headache that makes you want to slice off your own face and can't possibly think of food before about 7pm.</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>B </b>- Bills</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEEt48Y3GNU/WO_AeE3emfI/AAAAAAAABxs/YvIVWWxjdM8A2oPndVbCmceexBB7qYS1wCLcB/s1600/7b583d4d4438993fb30db6a801a98b5f_-help-me-im-poor-meme-help-me-im-poor-meme_500-209.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BEEt48Y3GNU/WO_AeE3emfI/AAAAAAAABxs/YvIVWWxjdM8A2oPndVbCmceexBB7qYS1wCLcB/s400/7b583d4d4438993fb30db6a801a98b5f_-help-me-im-poor-meme-help-me-im-poor-meme_500-209.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Your twenties are when you really get to grips with paying bills. Phones, taxes, insurance, energy, rent - no matter how much you're actually adulting, you'll be experiencing the hell that is bill-paying in one way or another. For lots of us this probably became a reality whilst at university and then at the other end of the twenties spectrum, you end up paying the whole lot for cars, homes, taxes, pensions, you name it. One of the most frustrating factors of life in general, but as the saying goes "shit don't come for free!"</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>C </b>- Confidence</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_kRoCiCIBo/WO_DIlE6TXI/AAAAAAAABx4/xDTYGvkGHbEEDa8LtmF0goaHhKwLfaBrQCLcB/s1600/9e09a18908f43fc4c6f5cf2f96fccd2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T_kRoCiCIBo/WO_DIlE6TXI/AAAAAAAABx4/xDTYGvkGHbEEDa8LtmF0goaHhKwLfaBrQCLcB/s320/9e09a18908f43fc4c6f5cf2f96fccd2b.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">For me, this is still building and I dare say for many others, this is also the case, but naturally, as we get older, our confidence grows, along with our voice. Sure, there are probably a number of areas in which we don't all feel confident, but in comparison to those teenage years, we are much more certain of ourselves and capable of holding our own. Take my job for instance, standing up in front of people and talking for a living is something I would've ran a mile from when I was 18, but fast forward 6/7 years and its the most natural thing in the world. No longer reliant on parents to sort out those 'adult' things like doctors appointments, complaints, refunds, taxes etc, we are naturally expected to step up and it becomes a lot easier the further in we get.</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>D </b>- Debt</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpHF5Glwk9o/WO_GpO7NXnI/AAAAAAAAByE/z7OfZo1pd40djPzXur7vFrVy2JzqxV62wCLcB/s1600/5bd177e3fa86efac0945d8307ed8b242_top-15-student-loan-memes-student-loan-cat-meme_736-432.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpHF5Glwk9o/WO_GpO7NXnI/AAAAAAAAByE/z7OfZo1pd40djPzXur7vFrVy2JzqxV62wCLcB/s400/5bd177e3fa86efac0945d8307ed8b242_top-15-student-loan-memes-student-loan-cat-meme_736-432.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Student loans, overdrafts, I.O.Us to the bank of mum &amp; dad or our pals - we've all been in situations where we've owed money and particularly for those of us that went to university, this is something we're often burdened with well into our twenties. Obviously its something we're aware of at the time but being young often makes you a lot less logical and incapable of seeing long-term circumstances. At 25, I still battle with the recurring shadow of that student overdraft I went into during a night out at uni and only now have I marginally seen my way out of it and I'm not alone, many have told me that they were in a very similar situation. But rest assured, the end will come!</div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>E </b>- Existential Crisis</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wukb9xMNLfI/WO_JpGzN9zI/AAAAAAAAByQ/pMbHi97I0IonpFS4USQCTVxQW3a6rlJWACLcB/s1600/130ffa0d2674bfd24cabe67830e128ce4d1b283c412f630d269e21540d8619f7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wukb9xMNLfI/WO_JpGzN9zI/AAAAAAAAByQ/pMbHi97I0IonpFS4USQCTVxQW3a6rlJWACLcB/s320/130ffa0d2674bfd24cabe67830e128ce4d1b283c412f630d269e21540d8619f7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">We all joke about this regularly and more often than not, it comes from looking at those around us and stupidly comparing our own lives. This leads to the inevitable "what the fuck am I doing with my life?" I probably have this feeling at least once a week and it is usually when I see someone my age doing awesome things with their lives. Its that feeling of doubting ourselves and wondering if we're fulfilling our full potential or purpose in life. Wondering if we're destined to do more or see more and why other people seem to be further ahead in life than us. Its completely a phase and on reflection, probably what spurs us on. Another entirely normal part of growing up.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>F </b>- Facebook</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="269.9294117647059" src="//giphy.com/embed/NQZhGb4uBcVa0" width="480"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Let's face it, this is an integral part of modern life, whether we like it or not. Everyone's on it, even people that aren't on it, know about it and its how we interact with and find out things about almost everyone in our lives. My gran can barely use a phone and isn't on Facebook but she still gets all her news via Facebook from our auntie, who is!&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">I'm a serial poster, everyone comes to me for help with Facebook, everyone asks me if they want to find something on Facebook and I'm a regular scroller. As sad as that may be, it seems that Facebook is where a lot of people find out news, information and most commonly, where people keep up to date with the lives of those around them. As a twenty-something on Facebook, those around you are more than likely posting from the pub, their newly bought home, showing off their proposal pics or their pride for their children or sharing memes about loving animals/wine more than people (latter is me).&nbsp;</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>G </b>- Gin</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="225.6" src="//giphy.com/embed/aqzwlK82dWf8k" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay so this probably could've just been filed under alcohol but its so much more than that. Its that sign of maturity, its that bond with your gin-drinking pals and its the fact that it can be infused with sooo many delicious flavours and makes Friday nights so much better. This deserves its own category cause frankly, when you're ordering the same drink as Rita from Corrie, you know you're ageing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>H </b>- Home</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTaYR6Dsl0Y/WO_Oqo-PuSI/AAAAAAAAByg/IEAtjIkEIYss0o_qFyCrPROD0bmhznK6wCLcB/s1600/3039f36ddbbd7167aac606b0d1eef114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zTaYR6Dsl0Y/WO_Oqo-PuSI/AAAAAAAAByg/IEAtjIkEIYss0o_qFyCrPROD0bmhznK6wCLcB/s320/3039f36ddbbd7167aac606b0d1eef114.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a biggie in your twenties as you are probably going to move around a lot. From your first taste of independence, moving back from university, to taking out your first mortgage - your home-life is a huge part of everything in your twenties, regardless of which bracket you fall into. It could be that you come back from university and have to fall back into the life of living with parents or other family members, or you could be languishing a little freedom in a house-share with friends or you may be fully adulting and buying your first home with a partner. Either way, all of these take their toll and take up a lot of time and money.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>I </b>- Identity</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//giphy.com/embed/PRf5E1Tu94zXW" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is just my opinion of course, but I would argue that between the ages of 14 - 21 you have dabbled in all sub-cultures going and tried a number of looks, hairstyles, walks, phases, friendship groups and by the time you are in your mid-twenties, you are much more certain of yourself, who you are and where you fit. You've found your tribe and you know yourself and what works for you, what your tastes are and where your morals lie. Obviously, with life's changes, these may alter again, but generally, you're approaching or settled in a state where you're comfortable in your own skin and you have those traits that make people recognise you and things that always remind people of you. Your identity is solid and you love to express it and have others notice it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>J </b>- Junk Food</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="268.8" src="//giphy.com/embed/NNfbX0TluRbuU" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Because we're supposed to be adults now and adults can cook right? Wrong. You're at work all day, and get home starving and desperate to get your bath and get in bed as soon as possible. So are you really gunna bash out a gourmet meal or are you gunna throw in a pizza that will be ready in 15 minutes and satisfy every inch of your soul. Pizza, of course.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>K</b>&nbsp;- Karma</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="240" src="//giphy.com/embed/l41YqxpMHPjmyOJGg" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've found that the older you get, the more you believe in respect and give and take. Karma is a huge part of this, the notion that you get what you give and karma will take care of the rest. You start to realise that a little kindness goes a long way and you recognise the impact of a compliment or a smile on a person's day. You acknowledge the fact that you just never know what a person is dealing with and tend to be much more sensitive to that. And of course you rely on the fact that douche-bags will get whats coming to them via karma cause frankly, with all the work, bills and gin, you can't afford to be serving up justices left right and centre.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>L </b>- Loyalty</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iu4GqXlatyU/WO_Wv9xWNtI/AAAAAAAAByw/obFMUCvMrQciAZsO2DaOtl6T8o6gDi7ZQCLcB/s1600/91005b1f1af70069baed354f10d8d5ad_these-hoes-aint-loyal-these-hoes-aint-loyal-memes_494-329.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iu4GqXlatyU/WO_Wv9xWNtI/AAAAAAAAByw/obFMUCvMrQciAZsO2DaOtl6T8o6gDi7ZQCLcB/s400/91005b1f1af70069baed354f10d8d5ad_these-hoes-aint-loyal-these-hoes-aint-loyal-memes_494-329.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a trait that you cherish the more you grow up. You need people in your life that you can count on and who will have your back more than ever and you start to filter out those that don't. Obviously as time goes on, some friendships fizzle out due to life's course but there will be those who you've always held dear, those that you message first when life kicks you in the face or leaves you skipping rainbows. While the twenties are your selfish years, loyalty is still a necessity.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>M </b>- Memories</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAW2-THZWAQ/WO_XyoFoqiI/AAAAAAAABy8/0UslUK4JETEYnBXOqIYB6BrWBpWHhq1jACLcB/s1600/Untitled-1205.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAW2-THZWAQ/WO_XyoFoqiI/AAAAAAAABy8/0UslUK4JETEYnBXOqIYB6BrWBpWHhq1jACLcB/s320/Untitled-1205.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I spend so much time reminiscing, its a wonder I ever get anything done. But at this age, you're in limbo, not a child, not wholly confident that you're an adult. You look back on childhood, good experiences, bad experiences, photographs, teenage years, uni memories etc. We are even bombarded with apps and features that see the relevance of this and do it for us. Timehop notifies me at 8AM every morning that I need to look back over what I did years ago and I do religiously, every single day. Nostalgia is something we all buy into and something that comforts us, so its only natural that memories are such a big factor in our lives.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>N </b>- Neuroticism</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//giphy.com/embed/113lpGxixJ5ahO" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So I'm not talking to an extreme and this is not necessarily something that everyone might relate to but for me, this is a biggie. Although a slight contradiction on the second factor in this list, confidence, there are obviously two ends to the spectrum. A lot of these traits, such as worrying, anxiety, frustration, jealousy and stress just relate to general life experiences, a lot of which you will probably go through at some point in your twenties, such as heartbreak, job stress, home stress, grief, money worries etc. A lot of these traits and this neuroticism may be down to experiences or just down to the fact that you care and are still trying to impress or gain reassurance from those around you. With so many life-altering occurances, it would be odd not to experience this throughout these years.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>O </b>- Over-thinking/Over-analysing</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQkq1siBr74/WO_cJ3OBfpI/AAAAAAAABzI/BSQFbOa1zasfA_CShmNJJ-cpd5XeIoewQCLcB/s1600/1b25821b7bbe2f8be35f3719b66d01f2_overthinking-meme-with-overthinking-memes_300-269.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iQkq1siBr74/WO_cJ3OBfpI/AAAAAAAABzI/BSQFbOa1zasfA_CShmNJJ-cpd5XeIoewQCLcB/s1600/1b25821b7bbe2f8be35f3719b66d01f2_overthinking-meme-with-overthinking-memes_300-269.jpeg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Much in sync with the previous. You find yourself thinking more about people's actions and words as you get older. Trying to provide reason or meaning to things, often with good cause. You probably over-think your own actions and responses and wish you'd said or did things differently with perspective. You over-think the most trivial or mundane things, often for no reason but sometimes as a coping mechanism so that when things are conquered, it feels more of an achievement.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>P </b>- Post-Grad Blues</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EClv55qWUFA/WO_dlnm_ESI/AAAAAAAABzU/82W7hi8gU-oVjbsfDyeCdyV7ok0VAH1eQCLcB/s1600/f0f17d20a2adfc43363612adc9c05b56--college-graduation-graduate-school.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EClv55qWUFA/WO_dlnm_ESI/AAAAAAAABzU/82W7hi8gU-oVjbsfDyeCdyV7ok0VAH1eQCLcB/s320/f0f17d20a2adfc43363612adc9c05b56--college-graduation-graduate-school.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So those of you who didn't go to uni probably won't get this but those of you who did, definitely will. The overwhelming feeling when you graduate and have no idea what to do with your life. You have to snap back to reality, no more weeknight drinkathons, no more pondering society in lectures, or counting on grants to get you by in life. The harsh light of real life. For many, this means returning home and losing that sense of independence, which kills your soul. For the lucky few, who dive straight into a well-paid job, its not a long haul but for those who have to endure the post-uni, back home, retail job blues, it sucks big time. And even after getting the job you worked hard for, you still ponder your life at uni, either wishing you could go back or wishing you'd done things slightly differently.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Q </b>- Quarter-life crisis</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzgP7Y6H204/WO_ec9i8h4I/AAAAAAAABzc/ES0nCoiVEigXDV-DdWv2aSAkM6gjeEfDgCLcB/s1600/imissbeing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uzgP7Y6H204/WO_ec9i8h4I/AAAAAAAABzc/ES0nCoiVEigXDV-DdWv2aSAkM6gjeEfDgCLcB/s400/imissbeing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Much like the existential crisis but more the realisation that you are a quarter of the way through your-life, that is of course assuming you're a machine and live to 100. But this is the point where you wonder what you've achieved and if you're where you should be within the 'norms' of life (of which there aren't any of course, cause everyone is entirely different)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>R </b>- Relationships</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//giphy.com/embed/3o6ZtoUP01FNWHjL6U" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Whether this was an A-Z of 20s, teens, 30s, 40s etc, this would probably still be a factor. Relationships tend to be at the forefront of people's life-plans and in your twenties, you're either solidly in one and have been for a while, dating back and forth, single and happy with it or single and not so happy with it. Those who are in one are thinking about their commitments, whether its just holidays or mortgages and engagements. Those who aren't are probably very aware that this is the time most people are thinking about those things and feel a need to get involved or run for the hills. Being in your mid-twenties and newly single is odd, because it kind of feels like you're back in your teens and you have to find yourself again and find out what you want and like again. But either way, regardless of your status, being in your twenties in or out of a relationship, both can bring awesome things to look forward to. Unless of course, you've entirely given up and already picked out your cats. (not me, I swear)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>S </b>- Selfish</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58c5lm51DjY/WO_idqMeqmI/AAAAAAAABzo/U2cUkibsve0L9-K8MgGBpCcPzQMGX5JRgCLcB/s1600/c654b9b20f8f60e86a507c2cc36d48df.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-58c5lm51DjY/WO_idqMeqmI/AAAAAAAABzo/U2cUkibsve0L9-K8MgGBpCcPzQMGX5JRgCLcB/s400/c654b9b20f8f60e86a507c2cc36d48df.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Many say that your twenties are your selfish years, particularly before you have any proper commitments or responsibilities. Its the time to do awesome things and to do things that make you happy, to spend that disposable income and live it up. But its no secret that society is much more instant now and people are getting settled and committed even earlier.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>T </b>- Terrible Decisions</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="259.2" src="//giphy.com/embed/jy0w1Jyg8tq8g" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, you're either living in the shadow of ones you've already made or you're still making them and realising you need to get your shit together because you're an adult now. And let's not lie, most of these are probably down to alcohol or not listening to people. Either way, these may be having an impact in your life but its true that we learn from our mistakes and will probably continue to do so here on in, after all, if we didn't, we'd have no stories or advice to give our friends and families later on in life.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>U </b>- Uncertainty</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="273.3774834437086" src="//giphy.com/embed/Ll2fajzk9DgaY" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Obviously this is the U because who knows what will happen in the future? Some may be making plans for this now, the rest of us are probably just getting through each day and feeling a sense of achievement every Friday. If we knew what was coming, life would probably be quite a bore-fest.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>V </b>- Vintage</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="326.4" src="//giphy.com/embed/3og0ISeM3YSIjqg252" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel like, a love for vintage is something that you gain as you get older. Mainly because as kids, nobody wanted a hand-me-down, but fast forward and we can't get enough. Ebay, kilo sales, books, vinyl, polaroids, you name it, anything old school is suddenly cool. Not only cause we are the hipster generation but also cause the older you get, the more frugal you become and we all love a bargain. I mean, I just spent two days listing clothes on Ebay and I'm constantly finding steals on there for myself. The love of finding something old and pre-loved and the story behind it links to the comfort we find in nostalgia and thrifting and upcycling are very much in fashion.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>W </b>- Work</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//giphy.com/embed/inVvfuomoD31K" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We all get this one. Monday mornings, spending most of your life at work instead of at home, work-induced stress, wages etc. Its all part of life, or at least it should be. For many of us, work takes up an incredible amount of our time, effort and headspace. However for me, this isn't as much of a hindrance as it may sound, because I worked hard to get a job that I just so happen to love. Albeit when I used to work in retail, I hated it, I couldn't have thought of a more unfulfilling life for myself (no offence to anyone who does work in retail, if you enjoy it, then fair enough), but I knew it wasn't what I wanted to spend my life doing. I can't stress enough how great it feels to have job you don't always dread and one that you're happy to go to even in your free-time. Its something I wish I could grant everyone. Don't get me wrong, I hate waking up early and I'm exhausted by Friday and there is a lot of after work, work but its all worthwhile. Love or hate your job though, its just something we've all gotta do.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>X </b>- XP</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="300.47999999999996" src="//giphy.com/embed/qUDenOaWmXImQ" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, so I cheated a little here but... experience. By now, we're racking up that XP and going through a bunch of stuff that will shape the rest of our lives and who we are. We're being listened to more cause we're not just kids (just don't mention politics) and we have the right to give advice and guidance. Plus we're kind of the first generation to know what XP means...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Y </b>- Youth</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="368" src="//giphy.com/embed/3orieJI3IdkKWIsAGA" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This had to be the Y because we're so adamant we are still young. I know the heart-sinking feel of ticking 25-34 on a survey and feeling like its slipping away! Hence why I still have facial piercings and dye my hair orange. However, youth also had to be included cause while we still want to be young, we're also becoming more intolerant of the young. There comes a point where you pass a group of chavs in town and try your best to disguise your disgust at their vocabulary in public or the fact they're covering the path with their bikes but as you get older, you can't disguise it and blatantly side-eye them, shake your head or tut. You find it more and more disgraceful to see gangs of kids in bus stations and hear vulgar language in front of the elderly and kids and despite the fact, you and your friends probably did it (I didn't for the record), you recoil in total dismay.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Z </b>- Zzzzz</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360.24340770791076" src="//giphy.com/embed/U7Lvtcuqh4WZy" width="480"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now this is most probably just me, but I swear I'm going to bed earlier every single year. Gone are the days when I see 1/2AM unless I'm out. Most nights I'm asleep by 11 at the very latest. People at work will ask if I saw something on TV then realise it was on past 9 and say "oh nevermind you won't have seen it". I feel like sleep is relished even more as I get older. I actually think about how many hours I'll get before I go to sleep. Typing this out now is making me cringe but I'm sure I'm not alone in this one!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So there you have it, an A-Z of life in your 20s.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hopefully not as dismal as some of these sound... but then, as Pats &amp; Eddy said...</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="314.4" src="//giphy.com/embed/xUA7bcZIVhFIV917B6" width="480"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">IMGs &amp; GIFs from Google, Pinterest &amp; Giphy</span></i></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-10695004431434486762017-04-12T17:17:00.003+01:002017-04-12T17:23:05.789+01:002017 Goals and Promises <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drafted in January/February, posted on 12/04/2017</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CJyfeksm3lk/WO5Sxyb6qlI/AAAAAAAABxc/MOYBdL6yitgjkQy_j8b0gXCdMCedzC7CQCLcB/s1600/16010707_10154436962678370_1190881977_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CJyfeksm3lk/WO5Sxyb6qlI/AAAAAAAABxc/MOYBdL6yitgjkQy_j8b0gXCdMCedzC7CQCLcB/s320/16010707_10154436962678370_1190881977_o.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm not a 'resolutions' kind of girl. I've never taken them seriously and to be honest, I've never placed any emphasis on new year in general. For me, new years day has always been something of great insignificance, just any other day.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, things are different. Its no secret that 2016 wasn't a great year for me. In fact, I'd go as far to say that its probably the worst year I've experienced in all my 25. I lost my nan, I lost an extremely lengthy relationship and with both of those experiences, I lost a great deal of myself. For those reasons, I'm determined to make this year different, to make it count and to cancel out all of the bad from the previous year.&nbsp;</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, I want to make memories. I want to make new memories and I want to reclaim old memories that have been tainted or lost their sentiment. Therefore I haven't made resolutions as such, but instead just some goals and promises to myself to ensure that this year is for me and that this year will be one to remember and not purposely forgot.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Travel more</u></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first promise I want to make is that I will travel more. Anyone who knows me, knows that I never ever go anywhere. I genuinely barely leave Yorkshire and I really want this to alter. I wanna see things, I love the idea of city breaks and exploring new surroundings but have never felt like I've been in a position to do it. This year, I want to go places. Amsterdam &amp; Budapest are two that spring to mind after chats with friends and hopefully will be booked very soon!</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Learn to drive</u></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is both a want and a necessity. Its something I've put off for a while because a) I'm terrified and b) I've never really needed to. But this year seems like the time to get on it. My public transport pass expires in October, meaning the cost of commuting to work will increase tenfold, to the point where it may not even be worth it. So this year, driving is somewhat essential and with my 18 year old sister soon to pass, it seems that in this area, I'm actually the underachiever of the family for once. Plus, I can't wait to overcome my anxieties and have the freedom to travel endlessly, with my favourite tunes, my favourite people or just be at one with my own company on the road.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Learn to enjoy my own company again</u></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">I get how ridiculous this might sound. But I spent a lot of last year, desperate and longing to hang out with people all of the time. This was purely down to the fact that I had a lot going on and knew that if I was alone, I would dwell and overthink and turn myself into a quivering wreck. For ages, I'd do anything to prevent being alone. I'd call on friends constantly, spend a little too much time with family, to the point where I was in the way or overstaying my welcome. Slowly but surely, this is changing and I now, once again, revel in the opportunity to spend weekends alone, catching up on work, getting engrossed in hobbies or simply having 'me time'. I want this to continue throughout the year, because I think its super important to enjoy your own company and not rely too much on other people to fill your time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Read more</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I love reading, but I literally never do it. Much like blogging!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In my young adult life, I really haven't read that many books, although the ones I have read, I've loved. The last book I read was Yes Please by Amy Poehler and I loved it - it made me laugh, I could relate and I was genuinely addicted to reading it. However since then, a lot has happened and the reading bug lost its momentum. Low and behold though, I got a number of books around Christmas and I'd love to regain that love for reading this year. I'm starting with a book a friend got me called The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson and then I have a few by Caitlan Moran and Lena Dunham to get my teeth into, so here goes!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Start a vinyl collection</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another old school pastime that I want in on! I have toyed with the idea of buying a record player for a while but have been putting it off as I don't have my own space just yet. I like the idea of a portable one for now and may purchase one in the near future because I just love the idea of a collection that expresses you, on show for everyone to see and something to pass down to family in the future. I love looking through my dad's records and tapping into another era and visualising what life might have been like then. Hopefully funds will allow me to start my own vinyl collection at some point this year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Stop looking for re-assurance and trying to impress people</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Probably a promise/goal that is easier to say than actually do. I'm a person with very little confidence in many areas and a lot of self-doubt. I prepare for things by worrying immensely and becoming riddled with anxiety and a lot of the time this isn't the worst thing in the world as it kind of doubles up as a coping mechanism. I figure that worrying about something immensely and then overcoming it, makes me feel a greater sense of achievement and whilst it seems like the worst panic-attack provoking experience ever at the time, afterwards, with perspective, it seems like the smallest, most ridiculous thing ever. A lot of the time, the worry and anxiety comes from not believing in myself or from trying too hard to impress or please others, rather than focusing on myself. This is probably routed in loads of experiences I've had and people I've encountered along the way. But I'd kind of like to reign this in a little as I should definitely be more selfish and less bothered by others but in a way, it also just shows that I care a hell of a lot. Maybe not a totally fulfill-able goal but something I can at least acknowledge and work on.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u>Fill the year with awesome experiences</u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As said previously, I want this year to be one to remember. I want to fill it with days out, gigs, nights out, achievements and celebrations. I want to look back on the year and think "Crikey, I did loads!" I want to make new memories and have new experiences and just do things for me. Things I like, with people I like and have plenty to look forward to.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So there we have it, my aims for this year... lets see how these pan out!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Feel free to share yours and your progress.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-57826001191567479062017-01-15T13:06:00.000+00:002017-01-15T15:05:58.983+00:00Trend Envy: Embroidery Lovin'<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><div style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><div style="position: relative;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/trend_envy_embroidery/set?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=214950234" target="_blank"><img alt="Trend Envy: Embroidery" border="0" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/bb1Vd7qeZkbP0VUSql0Nug/cid/214950234/id/RGjN0yDb5hGqEX3NkI1_mg/size/c600x407.jpg" height="407" title="Trend Envy: Embroidery" width="600" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">One trend I can't get enough of at the moment is<b> the embroidery craze</b>. Every high street fashion store is bringin' it and <b>I just love it</b>. Anything <b>folksy, boho or rockabilly</b> wins in my book and this fad encompasses all three. Just gunna go buy aaaaaaaaaaall of this....</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;">_______________________________________________________________</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><br /><small></small><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=179233860" rel="nofollow">Topshop dress</a>&nbsp;</small>£16&nbsp;/ <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=194894993" rel="nofollow">Flower print dress</a>, £39 / <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=194471529" rel="nofollow">Embroidered jean jacket</a>, £14 / <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=195438358" rel="nofollow">Skinny fit jeans</a>, £35 / <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=193709277" rel="nofollow">Topshop rock n roll jeans</a>&nbsp;£58/ <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=193008286" rel="nofollow">Topshop black lace shoes</a>, £41 / <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=183366474" rel="nofollow">Shoulder strap handbag</a>&nbsp;£16/ <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=196094234" rel="nofollow">Black Elle Est Belle Butterfly Embroidered Beanie</a>&nbsp;£7.99/ <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=193180944" rel="nofollow">Embroidered Lingerie Set</a>&nbsp;£32</span></div></div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-30263324132429516832017-01-14T18:23:00.000+00:002017-01-15T15:05:16.536+00:00Latest obsession: Bullet Journalling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dy4urqKFO40/WHpsOuCfMjI/AAAAAAAABw0/8XrPsyk3qns0IKGUeaTDJPkL5SseG_Y2gCLcB/s1600/16010085_10154436932878370_814435483_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dy4urqKFO40/WHpsOuCfMjI/AAAAAAAABw0/8XrPsyk3qns0IKGUeaTDJPkL5SseG_Y2gCLcB/s320/16010085_10154436932878370_814435483_o.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>If you're at one with social media or a <b>self-confessed Pinterest junkie</b> then you will most definitely have heard of the latest popular crafty project - <b>the bullet journal.</b><br /><div>This administrative phenomenon gained internet-momentum after a video circulated online, showing the journal's premise and layout. The official <a href="http://bulletjournal.com/" target="_blank">bullet journal website&nbsp;</a>contains said video, as well as a rundown of what the hell this much-hashtagged hobby actually is.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, in layman's terms, the bullet journal is<b> basically a personalised diary</b> or planner with an intricate key system and a set of adaptable spreads that should make even the most unsystematic last-minute Larry, the epitome of organisation. The original premise is a little confusing and aesthetically, quite minimalist, however a quick browse of Instagram or Pinterest shows that this doesn't have to be the case. Generally, the journal will contain a key, index and a range of general spreads such as a 'future log' which is essentially an 'at a glance' look at the upcoming year/months and then a breakdown of monthly and daily spreads, but these can be developed or adapted depending on the individual's needs.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am by no means organised. As a teacher, I definitely should be, but my desk is generally littered with to-do lists scrawled onto post-its and never actually completed. My social life isn't particularly burdening but its not unknown for me to forget or overlook plans and frankly, anything to get me off social media or away from naff TV is very much needed. So after months of not getting round to it (hence the need), I finally decided to jump on the bullet bandwagon.</div><div><br /></div><div>My journal doesn't follow the recognised system to a T, but <b>it's creative, personalised and it's mine. </b>And yes, the lazybones' amongst us will be thinking 'why not just buy a planner?' but for me, putting effort into something is more likely to make me use it than just buying one. My journal contains a simple key, which denotes a task, appointment, deadline, birthday or idea and a range of symbols to indicate their completion or migration to another day. It also contains a working index which will constantly be added to throughout the year, as well as a 'year at a glance' future log and a spread for each month and a double page for each week. The fun thing about the bullet journal is that it can contain anything you like, from meeting notes, to lists of books &amp; TV shows to get involved with, to inspirational quotes and birthday trackers. For ideas, Pinterest has you covered.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVTPygVyP-s/WHprPsPyDRI/AAAAAAAABws/QpDaUEHIGOEDunDdZb8KlvpDWVPNoaMGACLcB/s1600/BeFunky%2BCollage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QVTPygVyP-s/WHprPsPyDRI/AAAAAAAABws/QpDaUEHIGOEDunDdZb8KlvpDWVPNoaMGACLcB/s640/BeFunky%2BCollage1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key &amp; Index &nbsp;| &nbsp;Future Log &nbsp;| Monthly spread for Feb (note the national pizza &amp; wine days) &nbsp;| &nbsp;Weekly spread</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3aiRND1cMoY/WHprQN2yDMI/AAAAAAAABww/mslfAHBcaaIlpx_yh5KNrJPht3AoAlTmACLcB/s1600/BeFunky%2BCollage22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3aiRND1cMoY/WHprQN2yDMI/AAAAAAAABww/mslfAHBcaaIlpx_yh5KNrJPht3AoAlTmACLcB/s640/BeFunky%2BCollage22.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspirational &amp; motivational pick-me-ups &nbsp;| Books I want to read &nbsp;| &nbsp;Blog ideas (I'll try harder, I swear!)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>I opted for the<b> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/LEUCHTTURM1917-344784-Notebook-numbered-anthracite/dp/B00FWRVVFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=officeproduct&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484418355&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=leuchtturm%2B1917&amp;th=1" target="_blank">Leuchtturm 1917 notebook</a></b>, as this appeared to be a favourite amongst bullet-journallers and came in a range of funky colours, allowing you to express your personality. For my scribblings, I fluctuate between<b> <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/STABILO-Point-88-Fineliner-Assorted/dp/B00ATBRJRC/ref=sr_1_1?s=officeproduct&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484418399&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=stabilo" target="_blank">Stabilo point 88 fineliners</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Staedtler-334-Triplus-Fineliner-Superfine/dp/B0007OEE7E/ref=sr_1_1?s=officeproduct&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484418430&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=staedtler+pens" target="_blank">Staedtler triplus fineliners</a></b> alongside pencils and watercolours, to distinguish between the serious pages and the more creative, vibrant pages.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've used the bullet journal for just over a week and so far, so good. Post-its have been at a bare minimum thanks to the allocated to-do page on each weekly spread and it's allowed me to make a proper note of upcoming appointments, birthdays and the barrage of gigs I have coming up this year. Now it's all set-up and my initial pages are complete, its a <b>great way of keeping on top of life </b>and also giving yourself <b>a fun, creative output</b>/satisfying your childish need to get the colours out!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-61074129753730606712016-07-14T13:49:00.000+01:002016-07-14T18:44:12.469+01:00Summer Travels & Bestie Reunions<div style="text-align: justify;">Anyone that knows me will know that <b>I rarely travel to far away shores</b>. This isn't necessarily through choice but more lack of funding and time and is definitely something I aim to rectify in the next year or two. Generally, the furthest I go each summer is to Scarborough to stay with one of my lovely uni pals, Jade and then sit back and watch everyone else's travelling posts and pics on Facebook whilst reeking of jealousy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year, we went one step further. Whilst not exactly a jet-set holiday, a million miles away, me and Jade <b>sailed off to visit one of our closest yet furthest away friends, Beth on her little Isle of Man</b> for the first time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive and unsure what to expect, as stated before, I rarely go away. However,<b> I now think everyone should go visit the Isle of Man at least once in their lifetime.</b> For anyone who may be unaware of the island, its the little dot between England and Ireland and consists of <b>towns such as Douglas, Ramsey and Peel</b>. It's a strange little place with little stories and myths behind everything but that somehow makes it so enjoyable. You'll be listening to tales of <b>Manannan and his cloak, believing in and talking to fairies and bumping into flags of the three legs left, right and centre.</b> Everything is unbelievably photogenic, <b>the sea is crystal clear, the traditions are the cutest and the people are the friendliest I've ever met.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The island is littered with sights and cute little eateries and cocktail bars and is perfect for a short break, just a couple of days away. We travelled via boat which was certainly an experience, particularly the rough ride home, but it was a brilliant experience and I for one will now be visiting more often.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was lucky enough to have four days on the isle and then a couple of days in York &amp; Scarborough, surprising and catching up with friends and having the best times making cute memories whilst there.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span purple="" style="color: purple;"><u>Things I saw and did on the Isle:</u></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Marvelled at the <b>Isle of Man notes &amp; coins</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Saw the<b> sights of Peel &amp; walked around Peel Castle</b>, taking in the breathtaking coasts and quaint little boats in the harbour</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Ate at a number of cute little venues &amp; tearooms including <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/harbourlightspeel/" target="_blank">Harbour Lights tea-room in Peel</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teajunction.im/?fref=ts" target="_blank">The Tea Junction in Douglas</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justpizzapasta/?fref=ts" target="_blank">JUST Pizza &amp; Pasta in Douglas</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Enjoyed a walk along <b>the promenade in Douglas</b>, in awe of the clear waters, Tower of Refuge and neat and tidy parks and gardens along the way</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- A drive along a foggy <b>Marine Drive</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Said hello to the fairies whilst driving over the <b>locally famous Fairy Bridge</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Saw the Absolutely Fabulous film at the <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/villagaiety/?fref=ts" target="_blank">cute little Broadway Cinema at the Villa Gaiety</a></b> in Douglas</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Took a walk up to the top of the <b>Laxey Wheel and revelled in the sights and sounds surrounding Lady Isabella</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Visited the only superstore on the whole island!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Had plenty of <b>drinks including cocktails at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bathandbottle/" target="_blank">Bath &amp; Bottle</a> and a night out in the one and only <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theoutbackiom/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Outback bar in Douglas</a></b> (Just be weary of Squashed Frogs!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Had a bizarre but memorable day out <b>roaming Cregneash &amp; watching Castletown's World Tin Bath Races</b></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQV8g47whQ8/V4eFgxiAUiI/AAAAAAAABvM/Zcl6A4DxDpEekswEhrfwugwjgr-AQ32ZgCLcB/s1600/photo-collage%2B%25285%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lQV8g47whQ8/V4eFgxiAUiI/AAAAAAAABvM/Zcl6A4DxDpEekswEhrfwugwjgr-AQ32ZgCLcB/s640/photo-collage%2B%25285%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Isle of Man's Liverpool to Douglas Ferry &nbsp;| &nbsp;Manx Currency &nbsp;| &nbsp;Manx Electric Railway in Douglas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsbgrGe09ho/V4eFg_WTCaI/AAAAAAAABvE/87v52WV0Iw492BtgfVbcGU6sQ8Ow1bEmgCLcB/s1600/photo-collage%2B%25287%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsbgrGe09ho/V4eFg_WTCaI/AAAAAAAABvE/87v52WV0Iw492BtgfVbcGU6sQ8Ow1bEmgCLcB/s640/photo-collage%2B%25287%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun at Laxey Wheel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-txk0YNrdI/V4eFguvirFI/AAAAAAAABvI/Tw9ru8vs4QsGIs4IymtS3vajVBAduNpKgCLcB/s1600/photo-collage%2B%25288%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i-txk0YNrdI/V4eFguvirFI/AAAAAAAABvI/Tw9ru8vs4QsGIs4IymtS3vajVBAduNpKgCLcB/s640/photo-collage%2B%25288%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the devine food &amp; drink: The Tea Junction in Douglas &nbsp;| &nbsp;Bath &amp; Bottle cocktail bar in Douglas &nbsp;| &nbsp;A bolognese pizza from JUST Pizza &amp; Pasta in Douglas</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl9YSFKBZ4k/V4eFiTffLuI/AAAAAAAABvQ/4cjlrg_8GGwmW2LD0QRVA5TGcMI6dBrRACLcB/s1600/photo-collage%2B%25289%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl9YSFKBZ4k/V4eFiTffLuI/AAAAAAAABvQ/4cjlrg_8GGwmW2LD0QRVA5TGcMI6dBrRACLcB/s640/photo-collage%2B%25289%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun along Douglas Promenade - Featuring lovely greenery, clear seas, Tower of Refuge, IoM ferries and a gormless me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wa1NUITXCNk/V4eHUlBaVII/AAAAAAAABvg/-v2mEVjaK4cqvcRN9eStQB_61JlE44YDwCLcB/s1600/13730665_10153911995583370_586618221_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wa1NUITXCNk/V4eHUlBaVII/AAAAAAAABvg/-v2mEVjaK4cqvcRN9eStQB_61JlE44YDwCLcB/s400/13730665_10153911995583370_586618221_o.jpg" width="223" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1O-Isvrxjc/V4eGjGlJ1uI/AAAAAAAABvY/vAWdKD-Qltc7YcIfDdsVY99oIkvplTtuwCEw/s1600/13694028_10153911969273370_885907842_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1O-Isvrxjc/V4eGjGlJ1uI/AAAAAAAABvY/vAWdKD-Qltc7YcIfDdsVY99oIkvplTtuwCEw/s400/13694028_10153911969273370_885907842_o.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Night-time fun &amp; drinks in Douglas&nbsp;</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I was also lucky enough to spend <b>a night in Scarborough after my Manx travels</b>, and got to see the wonder that is <b>James Bay at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/openairtheatre/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Scarborough Open Air Theatre</a></b>. He was an absolute dream as one would expect!</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0s2Yc8OxSLM/V4eIA1AryaI/AAAAAAAABvo/S3gvxRRfMiQa05pvVUtn02URbDnte3V7gCLcB/s1600/13702405_10153911969103370_1625253679_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0s2Yc8OxSLM/V4eIA1AryaI/AAAAAAAABvo/S3gvxRRfMiQa05pvVUtn02URbDnte3V7gCLcB/s400/13702405_10153911969103370_1625253679_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Bay killing it at Scarborough OAT &lt;3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple;"><u><b>In Summary:</b></u></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>- The Isle of Man is magnificent and everyone should visit</b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>- James Bay is gorgeous</b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>- Good times with good friends make the absolute best memories</b></div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-12328890289584240242016-07-03T19:01:00.000+01:002016-07-03T19:11:15.113+01:00Recent Purchases & Favourites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OI8YwnKj9LQ/V3lHBkgyTXI/AAAAAAAABtw/a8GC0bnvm8QxyNX7cV6z200vU1q7bzZ7ACLcB/s1600/beauty%2Btitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OI8YwnKj9LQ/V3lHBkgyTXI/AAAAAAAABtw/a8GC0bnvm8QxyNX7cV6z200vU1q7bzZ7ACLcB/s400/beauty%2Btitle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PRQxCWo6_rY/V3lHIUd9I4I/AAAAAAAABt0/tq59Na_YHdg6_HwkxtJYNGV-xDOwumhQgCLcB/s1600/lipsticks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PRQxCWo6_rY/V3lHIUd9I4I/AAAAAAAABt0/tq59Na_YHdg6_HwkxtJYNGV-xDOwumhQgCLcB/s400/lipsticks.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.muastore.co.uk/matte-lipstick-lilac-belle" target="_blank">MUA Lilac Belle</a> | <a href="http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/beauty-3326659/lips-471/lips-in-muse-5526741?bi=0&amp;ps=20" target="_blank">Topshop Muse</a> | <a href="http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/lips-in-sashay-away-3453461" target="_blank">Topshop Sashay Away</a> | <a href="http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/beauty-3326659/lips-471/lips-in-boardroom-3532251?bi=0&amp;ps=20" target="_blank">Topshop Boardroom</a><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">The lipsticks I'm loving at the moment. <b>Brown shades are my go-to</b> at the minute and <b>Topshop</b> delivered with these three great shades. Also loving the vibrancy of this <b>MUA</b> lippy which looks great with a simple black outfit. And it was only £1!</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfXnDNxEles/V3lIokZ16iI/AAAAAAAABuA/Y_ktceGCmm4mB41Jn0zRwhuexUsp58VBACKgB/s1600/micellar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KfXnDNxEles/V3lIokZ16iI/AAAAAAAABuA/Y_ktceGCmm4mB41Jn0zRwhuexUsp58VBACKgB/s320/micellar.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Garnier-Micellar-Cleansing-Water-400ml_1440752/" target="_blank">Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A little late to the party with this one but I finally got a bottle of <b>Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water </b>and I love how refreshing it is. <b>Instant wake up and also the best make-up remover.</b></div></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--cpXH5NWetA/V3lJFPa5p6I/AAAAAAAABuE/xU2XfK8x15QyEl1xKQl0pupoXDVBgFrsQCKgB/s1600/fashion%2Btitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--cpXH5NWetA/V3lJFPa5p6I/AAAAAAAABuE/xU2XfK8x15QyEl1xKQl0pupoXDVBgFrsQCKgB/s400/fashion%2Btitle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_BimXna0h0/V3lJdtdf_CI/AAAAAAAABuM/w_qs9thKCCkoVQ7hArm4qlTjZAfCsVGfQCLcB/s1600/photo-collage%2B%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u_BimXna0h0/V3lJdtdf_CI/AAAAAAAABuM/w_qs9thKCCkoVQ7hArm4qlTjZAfCsVGfQCLcB/s640/photo-collage%2B%25282%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topshop Orange Shopper Bag (Sold Out)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous new <b>Topshop bag</b> I swagged in their sale last week. Only £15! Unfortunately sold out online but check your local store for any left over bargains like I did.</div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zu94xmiE91k/V3lKDJ57JQI/AAAAAAAABuQ/Pkzt9p2q4jIgWxR_kDTNjVOPmZxYre7XgCLcB/s1600/pinafores.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zu94xmiE91k/V3lKDJ57JQI/AAAAAAAABuQ/Pkzt9p2q4jIgWxR_kDTNjVOPmZxYre7XgCLcB/s400/pinafores.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinafores: Primark (All 3)</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Been all over the pinafore game over the last few months, as you can see even buying the same one in two colours! These three are all <b>Primark</b> and were around £15 from what I remember (don't quote me!) These are great paired with black, white, grey or brown stripy tops.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2nncErFzHg/V3lKOHcdS7I/AAAAAAAABuU/Uj26Wnz4rNcBQyMUmwpjjK_vkvTlHsmIwCLcB/s1600/skirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2nncErFzHg/V3lKOHcdS7I/AAAAAAAABuU/Uj26Wnz4rNcBQyMUmwpjjK_vkvTlHsmIwCLcB/s400/skirts.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.missguided.co.uk/berryana-faux-suede-midi-skirt-mauve" target="_blank">Missguided Berryana Faux Suede Midi Mauve</a> | <a href="https://www.missguided.co.uk/button-through-faux-suede-midi-skirt-khaki" target="_blank">Missguided Button Through Faux Suede Midi</a> | <a href="http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/invt/dzz91964" target="_blank">Boohoo Maya Suedette Faux Leather Panel Mini&nbsp;</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">In terms of going out attire, I'm a<b> big fan of fitted skirts</b> at the moment. I love the way these two <b>Missguided</b> midi skirts <b>figure hug the body and give you a super flattering look</b> whilst making you feel a million dollars. Also recently braved it and got a mini version in the form of this little black number from <b>Boohoo</b> which is right up my street with regards to colour and style.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkQ6kG2Hhd0/V3lLLVPJQHI/AAAAAAAABuc/Z3xLBVNh8pAFC1kTXX1gGP8qEjyS4OPpACLcB/s1600/grumps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkQ6kG2Hhd0/V3lLLVPJQHI/AAAAAAAABuc/Z3xLBVNh8pAFC1kTXX1gGP8qEjyS4OPpACLcB/s400/grumps.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grumpy Cat Socks &amp; Tote - Primark | <a href="http://www.alicetakesatrip.com/product/mardy-cats-collar-t-shirt" target="_blank">Alice Takes a Trip Mardy Cats Collar Tee</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>I love grumpy cat merch!</b> Primark have loads in at the moment, including the socks and tote pictured and also a pair of pyjamas that I'm using all my willpower not to buy! Current favourite t-shirt award also goes to the cute <b>Alice Takes a Trip</b> tee pictured. Cutest collar and print and constantly gets compliments from staff and students at work. Check them out!</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hP4iHBlkuXg/V3lLt_VaAVI/AAAAAAAABuk/P7O1uafSo48PlsBUD8dPL8sAQ0C95P0QACLcB/s1600/tv%2Btitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hP4iHBlkuXg/V3lLt_VaAVI/AAAAAAAABuk/P7O1uafSo48PlsBUD8dPL8sAQ0C95P0QACLcB/s400/tv%2Btitle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wN0hFv3_B0o/V3lNxZOAUFI/AAAAAAAABu0/TDJZmqsMyDwqYgDmrtie0QpxWCMld2WtQCLcB/s1600/photo-collage%2B%25284%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wN0hFv3_B0o/V3lNxZOAUFI/AAAAAAAABu0/TDJZmqsMyDwqYgDmrtie0QpxWCMld2WtQCLcB/s640/photo-collage%2B%25284%2529.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.lv3.hbo.com/custom-assets/img/free-episodes/game-of-thrones-632.jpg" target="_blank">Game of Thrones (Pic courtesy of HBO)</a> | <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/01/Absolutely_Fabulous_Cast.jpg" target="_blank">Absolutely Fabulous (Pic courtesy of Wikipedia)</a> | <a href="http://www.simplysewing.foxtrot.imdserve.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2016/05/The-Great-British-Sewing-Bee-2016-Jade.jpg" target="_blank">The Great British Sewing Bee (Pic courtesy of Simply Sewing Mag)</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Recent TV faves have been <b>Game of Thrones, Absolutely Fabulous &amp; The Great British Sewing Bee</b>.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Game of Thrones season six has been immense and I'm legitimately gutted its over for another year. Won't spoil anything here but if you haven't watched or don't watch, you really are missing a treat!&nbsp;</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Netflix</b> has allowed me to binge Ab Fab over the last few weeks. I remembered it being aired when I was little but never really watched it and always wanted to. Thanks to Netflix you can indulge in all the series' ready for the new film release. I can guarantee you'll all want to channel your inner Pats &amp; Eds.<br />And last but not least, I've been loving this years series of The Great British Sewing Bee. I can't sew to save my life, I dabble in cross-stitch and have lots of seamstress friends though so its right up my street. Fantastic contestants this year and some fab garments made. Looking forward to tomorrow's final and cheering on <b>TEAM JADE!</b></div></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-81032969479867479952016-07-03T16:18:00.004+01:002016-07-03T22:59:41.686+01:00A lot can happen in a year.<div style="text-align: justify;">I'm a regular culprit of blog abandonment and only really get round to it when I'm entirely free of any other commitments. I tend to thrash out numerous posts and then go silent for months on end. The last year has been no exception, but with legitimate reason.</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shortly after my last post, my life turned on its head and went into crazy mode. <b>I was offered my first teaching position</b> a week or two after my last post and since then I have been <b>busy literally all the time!</b> As you can imagine, teaching is a full-time job and then some, regardless of your contracted hours. I had to adjust to having a real grown-up job with full-time commitments and without sounding too modest, I think I've been doing a damn good job and am still thoroughly enjoying it.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">While most of my life in the last year has been consumed by work, other <b>life-changing things have also occurred</b> and completely stopped me in my tracks. I won't go into massive detail on these but it feels silly not to mention them, as they are all part of the reason I've been AWOL.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just after Christmas, my nan fell ill and spent all of the holiday period in hospital. She had peaks and troughs but essentially her health deteriorated massively in a short space of time and unfortunately we lost her to pneumonia just three days into 2016. This was a huge thing to deal with as it was really my <b>first experience of grief</b> and I held a lot in initially, in order to look out for my family and ensure their experiences were as easy and painless as such a situation could be. This obviously was a stressful &amp; upsetting time and something that completely changed our lives but as time has passed, it got somewhat easier and less upsetting to deal with and we're now slightly more at peace with the loss of <b>such a phenomenal woman.</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not long after coming to terms with the loss of my nan, I was also faced with the <b>break-up of a long-term relationship</b>. A relationship that had existed and been the biggest part of my young life for almost 8 years. As you can imagine again, this wasn't an easy thing to deal with. It took <b>a lot of adjustment and reassurance</b> to get used to a life without someone who had been like a right arm for a massive part of my life. This experience consisted of ups and downs, upset, loneliness, confusion, phases of resentment and hating (both of myself and the ex at times), apathy and a hell of a lot of unanswered questions. This happened three months ago and while I wouldn't consider myself completely free of the aforementioned ups and downs, I do consider myself to be through the worst of it. I think its impossible to ever be fully rid of someone who was a big part of your life and to be honest 'rid' seems the wrong word as we still have a lot in common and I would hope that we both still have respect for each other and the memories we shared. But the fact remains that <b>you can't force something if its existence is so one-sided</b>. There comes a time (and time being the key word) when you realise that you can't change someone's feelings and you're setting yourself up for disappointment if you continue to try.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">So there we have it, those are the reasons for the most recent case of blog-abandonment. To be honest, I could do a whole post on my experiences and the details of all three of those things, but some things should be left unsaid. (Or rather left in un-published posts) However, it is now July, I am <b>a lady of leisure</b> for the whole of Summer and after reading a lot of blogs recently, I feel <b>inspired and ready</b> to get back on the blogging wagon. Blogging is something I always feel happy doing and I love sharing my experiences and memories (and purchases) on here. The bonus being that sometimes, people actually read them too!</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Anyway, blog re-design and re-introduction over, get ready for some posts!</b></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">(<i>Check out my new layout, new About Me page and while you're at it, <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/terri-leigh123/m.html?_nkw=&amp;_armrs=1&amp;_ipg=&amp;_from=" target="_blank">I'm selling a bunch of threads on Ebay</a> at the moment so feel free to peruse!</i>)</div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-64376402115972580772015-09-15T13:17:00.000+01:002015-09-15T13:17:43.257+01:00The big trend I love this Autumn: 70s Stylin'.A couple of weeks ago, I trawled almost every Primark in West Yorkshire looking for a gorgeous 70s style suede tan skirt that I had clocked a short time before. The skirt is probably my favourite buy of the year so far, it goes with half of my wardrobe, can be worn in Summer or layered up for Autumn and is so so flattering.<br /><br />Since buying this skirt, I have seen a version in every high street store, usually mingling with the super stylish late 60s/70s inspired gear that seems to be EVERYWHERE at the minute. With this in mind, I have browsed the web and found some of my favourite 60s/70s influenced little gems for you to feast your eyes on. The rust, mustard and brown colours are perfect for Autumn, so let us embrace the big bold patterns and binge watch That 70s Show in honour of the fab hippie era.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-466-ByImk0A/VfgHmz8h7SI/AAAAAAAABrY/LHQbo7DP0gg/s1600/70s%2Bblog%2Btops%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-466-ByImk0A/VfgHmz8h7SI/AAAAAAAABrY/LHQbo7DP0gg/s640/70s%2Bblog%2Btops%2B2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ark.co.uk/product/ark-lula-folk-patchwork-top/027883" target="_blank">1</a> | <a href="http://www.ark.co.uk/product/first--i-mosaic-lace-detail-shirt/192984" target="_blank">2</a> | <a href="http://www.ark.co.uk/product/glamorous-maidavale-folk-print-boyfriend-shirt/195321" target="_blank">3</a> | <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5114374964523&amp;awc=2077_1442318550_35ba9e682d6f911b7b844f15eab6149a&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">4</a> | <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5114466649838&amp;awc=2077_1442318606_abc08aa4107e7437575dda29065b3d65&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">5</a> | <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5111433687114&amp;awc=2077_1442318679_916d7a7e5cb90f0dd27d588c51e3b6f0&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">6 </a>| <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5114349664515&amp;awc=2077_1442318750_051c14192a2104dd12e5002a41ec16c6&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">7</a> | <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5110295570080&amp;awc=2077_1442318791_7fb47e8b7eee791513adc5539864c5c4&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">8</a> |</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiVxcd1Nz-g/VfgH7YRo5pI/AAAAAAAABrg/J12X4tAFYWE/s1600/70s%2Bblog%2Bdresses%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KiVxcd1Nz-g/VfgH7YRo5pI/AAAAAAAABrg/J12X4tAFYWE/s640/70s%2Bblog%2Bdresses%2B2.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5416799960050&amp;awc=2077_1442318858_44bdb773cad6ef68677e6d4e560b568b&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">1</a> | <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5139221043514&amp;awc=2077_1442318942_8c7d1375b8d096faa102990ed0a94d0b&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">2</a> | <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5130090558800&amp;awc=2077_1442318989_65e52719cb99c028e173466d85ace00a&amp;cm_mmc=AffWin-_-Winter09-_-Polyvore-_-null" target="_blank">3</a> | <a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5130336049001" target="_blank">4</a> |</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMNtb_PDGEI/VfgH-_PblBI/AAAAAAAABro/px8aEjoKaGk/s1600/70s%2Bblog%2Bskirts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="602" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CMNtb_PDGEI/VfgH-_PblBI/AAAAAAAABro/px8aEjoKaGk/s640/70s%2Bblog%2Bskirts.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">| <a href="http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-A-Line-Suede-Mini-Skirt-with-Contrast-Stitch-and-Button-Through/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5283834&amp;transaction_id=10203b92d71f7b35fc6226b5381cae&amp;affid=14329&amp;istCompanyId=6f061ed0-7427-4b6c-bb90-987c0bd08468&amp;istItemId=lllxamrmm&amp;istBid=t&amp;pubref=1015" target="_blank">1</a>&nbsp;| <a href="http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/skirts/burgundy-leather-look-a-line-skirt-_352266267?tmad=c&amp;tmcampid=193&amp;extcam=AFF_CPC_POL_SHOP" target="_blank">2</a> | <a href="http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Denim-Aline-Skirt-With-Zip-Front-In-Oxblood/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=5291781&amp;transaction_id=1029f2d677d3735c9dcbd4cbf8debf&amp;affid=14329&amp;istCompanyId=6f061ed0-7427-4b6c-bb90-987c0bd08468&amp;istItemId=lpxqwtiqm&amp;istBid=t&amp;pubref=1015" target="_blank">3</a> | <a href="http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/skirts/black-suede-popper-front-skirt-_343433501?tmad=c&amp;tmcampid=193&amp;extcam=AFF_CPC_POL_SHOP" target="_blank">4</a>&nbsp;| <a href="http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/skirts/grey-oversized-check-skirt-_358806104?tmad=c&amp;tmcampid=193&amp;extcam=AFF_CPC_POL_SHOP" target="_blank">5</a> |</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-52324957752096463862014-12-02T19:45:00.000+00:002014-12-02T20:00:11.680+00:00Christmas Wishlist<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><div style="position: relative;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, after a very careless incident last week, in which my iPhone 6 fell victim to water damage, Christmas is all but cancelled, meaning I can't afford to splash out on presents this year and have therefore pleaded with my family not to go nuts buying me presents either.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">However, it never hurts to window shop, right?!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I went ahead had a gander at some of my favourite websites and found a few things that I would absolutely love if I wasn't in my current financial position - hopefully come student loan day in January and my wages over the Christmas period, I will have the funds to purchase at least a few of these things!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But even if that is not the case, I thought it'd be nice to show a few things that I think are really cool at the moment, and if anyone has any friends with the same wacky interests as me, they might just make for great gift ideas.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Clearly I love all of these items, but the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory bedding and the unicorn onesie are particular faves!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><div style="position: relative;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/christmas_wishlist/set?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=142175996" target="_blank"><img alt="Christmas Wishlist" border="0" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/nOMJ0IBZycrppFZzEa16sQ/cid/142175996/id/2LBKtFh65BGltpV0mu7EJQ/size/c600x313.jpg" height="313" title="Christmas Wishlist" width="600" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><small></small><br /><div style="padding-top: 16px;"><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=124577057" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/124577057.jpg" height="50" hspace="4" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=124577057" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lined trousers</a></small><br /><small>yayer.com</small><br /><small>£28</small><br /><small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><br /><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=122888267" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/122888267.jpg" height="50" hspace="4" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=122888267" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Timberland lace up bootie</a></small><br /><small>office.co.uk</small><br /><small>£160</small><br /><small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><br /><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125393337" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/125393337.jpg" height="50" hspace="4" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125393337" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Double Roald Dahl Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Duvset Cover Set...</a></small><br /><small>truffleshuffle.co.uk</small><br /><small>£44.99</small><br /><small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><br /><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=122626611" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/122626611.jpg" height="50" hspace="4" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=122626611" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McBusted Live at the 02 TourPlay [DVD] [2014]</a></small><br /><small>amazon.co.uk</small><br /><small>£13</small><br /><small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><br /><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125392300" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/125392300.jpg" height="50" hspace="4" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125392300" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McBusted by McBusted: Amazon.co.uk: Music</a></small><br /><small>amazon.co.uk</small><br /><small>£7</small><br /><small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><br /><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125392291" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/125392291.jpg" height="50" hspace="4" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125392291" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unicorn Kigu</a></small><br /><small>urbanoutfitters.com</small><br /><small>£50</small><br /><small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div><br /><div style="clear: both; margin: 0em; padding: 0px;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125393181" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img align="left" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/125393181.jpg" height="50" hspace="4" style="background-color: white; border: 1px solid #cccccc; margin: 0 8px 8px 0; padding: 2px;" width="50" /></a></small></div><div style="margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: left;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing?.embedder=10680620&amp;.svc=copypaste&amp;id=125393181" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Boxed Blondie Parallel Lines Black And White Stripe Mug</a></small><br /><small>truffleshuffle.co.uk</small><br /><small>£5.99</small><br /><small><br style="display: none;" /></small></div></div></div></div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-74003931180253428512014-09-14T14:38:00.000+01:002014-09-14T14:38:28.627+01:00Hot Topic WishlistOne website that I love but have never actually bought anything from is Hot Topic. They have the coolest alternative dresses and awesome band merch and pop culture treats but because all of their shops are situated anywhere but the UK and their online shipping costs are often a bit too high for me to afford, I never get round to buying anything. Recently they had a 50% off international shipping offer but unluckily for me, my student loan hasn't graced my bank account just yet, so unfortunately I couldn't take advantage of this mega offer. I was hoping that the offer would still be in affect when I get my loan later on this week, but I'm pretty sure it's ended already. Devastating.<br /><br />However, I made a little wishlist of things that I love from Hot Topic at the moment, and things that I would totally have purchased if my funds weren't so low right now. If you're a sucker for all things pop culture and love alternative pretty dresses and such, I'd recommend Hot Topic. And those of you in the US and elsewhere with Hot Topic stores, I envy you so much!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QFAV9t1VzPk/VBWYFK_5vZI/AAAAAAAABq0/1tTnU8hpong/s1600/Hot%2Btopic%2Bwishlist.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QFAV9t1VzPk/VBWYFK_5vZI/AAAAAAAABq0/1tTnU8hpong/s1600/Hot%2Btopic%2Bwishlist.png" height="478" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Girls/Dresses/Teenage+Runaway+Red+Skull+Doily+Collar+Dress-10117434.jsp" target="_blank">1</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Girls/Tops/Royal+Bones+Cream+Ripped+Tunic+Sweater-10205183.jsp" target="_blank">2</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/VDay/GiftsPricepoint/GirlsGiftsUnder20/Disney+The+Lion+King+Faces+No-Show+Socks+5+Pack-10054376.jsp" target="_blank">3</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Girls/Tops/Disney+Frozen+Elsa+Dancing+Girls+Pullover+Top-10228443.jsp" target="_blank">4</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Girls/Bottoms/Hell+Bunny+Roses+Skirt-10203253.jsp" target="_blank">5</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Accessories/Jewelry/Earrings/LOVEsick+Opal+Sun+Earrings-10191986.jsp" target="_blank">6</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Girls/Tops/Teenage+Runaway+Skull+Crochet+Cold-Shoulder+Top-10147285.jsp" target="_blank">7</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Girls/Tops/Royal+Bones+White+Victorian+Top-10113714.jsp" target="_blank">8</a> | <a href="http://www.hottopic.com/hottopic/Girls/Dresses/Royal+Bones+Skull+And+Rose+Lace+Dress-10167884.jsp" target="_blank">9</a></span></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-74737631127738520102014-09-08T18:36:00.000+01:002014-09-08T18:40:12.928+01:00The big debate - 'Should I go to university or not?'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXQLq7teBZ4/VA3n0EOunVI/AAAAAAAABqk/OjM0xqXuQAM/s1600/10579854_10152448658838370_1936139488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BXQLq7teBZ4/VA3n0EOunVI/AAAAAAAABqk/OjM0xqXuQAM/s1600/10579854_10152448658838370_1936139488_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br />Although September has creeped upon us already and many of you will already have made such decisions, I've seen a lot of videos/posts about going to university. Many of these have been highlighting reasons against university, rather than for.<br /><br />Now as a disclaimer, I fully understand and state that every single person is different and what works for one might not work for another, and many things have to be taken into account. But for me, university was a mega experience, and like many others who have taken to blogs or videos to explain their reasons and experiences with regards to not going to university, I thought I'd do the same, only in favour of furthering studies.<br /><br />For me the decision was never there to be made. I didn't have to ask myself if I wanted to go to university, I kind of just knew I would. I'm extremely academically minded and I've always loved learning and bettering my education. However, when I applied for university, it became apparent that I was going to need a lot of money to pull it off and that meant I was faced with problems. Obviously loans are available and I had no problems with that, but it was upfront costs with accommodation that proved to be an issue. My family have never been well off, and don't have disposable income, and therefore I didn't want to ask them for help because I knew the chances would be slim to none. My grandma and grandad were my biggest bets if I needed financial help and I knew they would support me if I needed it, but I didn't want to ask that of them. So I made the decision to defer my entry for a year. It was a decision I made quite late on in the application process, I think I actually waited for my results before I truly decided. My deferred entry was approved and I set out looking for employment in order to raise some funds. When I broke this news to my dad, he was far from pleased as he wanted me to go to university and thought that I wouldn't end up going the following year because I'd get too used to having my own income and would change my mind. I knew that would never happen and so went ahead with it anyway. I had a number of jobs throughout that year, and also spent a lot of time jobless, which sucked. Both of these experiences just made me want to go to university even more.<br /><br />When the time came to go to university a year later, I was so excited. The prospect of living on my own and meeting new people was so appealling to me, that I just couldn't wait. When I first got to uni, I was a little lonely. I talked to the people in my flat but it took a good week, before I got to know friends that I really gelled with. Those friends stayed with me for the whole of my university experience and are now my best friends in the whole world, because we became so close during the three years of our degrees. In terms of studying, I did enjoy my course. I studied Media and Popular Culture. Cue the criticism, but I've heard it all before. "That's a pointless course, a soft-option, something that the thick students study, you'll never get a job" I didn't care, I was passionate about my subject and went for it. At times the course was a little badly organised and very stressful, but overall, I enjoyed it. I learnt about the history of the media, the effects it has on consumers, I watched a whole timeline of films and analysed them accordingly, learnt to write in a journalistic manner, learnt a tiny bit about politics, and a whole host of other modules and areas. Three years went extremely quickly and I recently graduated and am now going on to study a further PGCE course. For me, university was my best option and I am so, so glad I did it.<br /><br /><u><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b>Going to university will:</b></span></u><br /><br />- Get you a good qualification if you work hard and do your best. A degree shows determination, commitment, and responsibility and can prove useful no matter what your prospective career might be.<br /><br />- Scare you to death because of the debt - but there's really no need. The debt a student gathers during university can be daunting but it really needn't be, as there are conditions to your repayment so that they are manageable and not crippling.<br /><br />- Build your confidence and social skills. Going to university forces you to talk to people, present to people and often socialise with people and contacts outside of your peer group. This is something I struggled with on and off during my uni experience, the thought of approaching people and being confident scared me to my wits end and if I'm being honest still does. But during my university life, I've had no choice but to man up and get on with it, or my grades would suffer as a result, I can honestly say that uni has helped me build confidence and given me the balls to put my point across and speak to those I wouldn't normally. I'll still struggle with this, undoubtedly, but uni gave me the realisation that sometimes, you have to do things you're not comfortable with, and because of that, I get on with things regardless of my apprehension. If I hadn't had these experiences, I reckon I would still be very introverted and have little to no self-confidence.<br /><br />- As above, university gives you the opportunity to meet some fascinating people. It gave me some amazing friends that I never would've met without the university experience and it also forced me to meet some valuable industry contacts through my studies.<br /><br />- Give you some unbelievable opportunities. Obviously I am still working towards my chosen career path but I have friends who have taken on work placements during their university experience and have been given some amazing opportunities and responsibilities through these.<br /><br />- Give you a sense of independence. Or at least it will if you let it. I would like to think I am extremely independent due to my three years at university. It forces you into doing 'adult' things such as washing, cleaning, budgeting, etc. Albeit some of those responsibilities often lag a bit at times, but it is a great way to build your independence, if you really stick at it and don't rely too much on your parents doing your washing every weekend and pre-cooking your meals.<br /><br />- Make memories that will last a lifetime. Some of the antics you will get up to at university will be hilarious, embarrassing and at times humiliating, but they make for great stories and cherished memories at the end. Where else would you get away with pushing your friend half way to the local club in a supermarket trolley or shoving chicken nuggets in a parking meter because McDonald's didn't give you any chips?<br /><br />- Give you good prospects if you're willing to fight and chase them. I have to be honest, I haven't been great at this, I've often sat back and waited for things to happen, rather than being ballsy and grabbing things with both hands and running. But I'm fully aware that the most successful students from my year group have been the ones who were focused, knew what they wanted and gone at it in a balls out manner. So one piece of advice I would give to those going to university, would be to put yourself out there at every given opportunity, decide what you want and go for it. I wouldn't change anything about my own experiences other than I would do this much more if I had the chance.<br /><br />So there you have a few pointers if you are making this decision very last minute or extremely early for next year. You'll find a lot of success stories from people who haven't gone to university but I rarely see anyone giving university the thumbs up. All I will say is, if you go, go for yourself, do what you think is right, and if you choose uni, embrace everything 100%. Except drugs, don't embrace drugs.Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-7511944963824717162014-09-08T16:32:00.001+01:002014-09-08T16:32:06.733+01:00Leeds Festival 2014Like many people of my age group, I am definitely no stranger to music festivals.<br /><br />I have always been heavily into music of all genres and I love having my own little bucket list of bands and artists that I can tick off when I've experienced one of their live shows. So for me, music festivals are great.<br /><br />I'd like to say I'm a fairly experienced festival-goer, as I have been to Leeds Festival twice (2009 and 2010) and Download Festival once (2012) before. However, unlike most festival-goers, I don't get incredibly inebriated with drinks and drugs whilst there. I'm by no means tea-total, I often indulge in a bottle of wine or something a bit stronger when I am in the mood for it and I do drink at festivals, but the thought of opening up a can of warm cider at 10AM is a sickening prospect for me personally and I have never done any drug in my life, so I never go crazy. I also don't judge anyone who does either of these, especially not at a festival, where let's be honest, it is kind of expected.<br /><br />For me, festivals are all about the music. Seeing my favourite bands and discovering new ones, is something I really enjoy, and that is also one of the reasons that I never go too crazy, because I want to be able to remember seeing them all and be able to recall these experiences for years to come.<br /><br />So introduction and disclaimer out of the way, I'll get down to the day-to-day running of who I saw and what happened. This could be a long one!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b>WEDNESDAY:</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><br /></span>On Wednesday morning, Jade and I woke up, had one of her mum's delightful bacon sandwiches and beautiful cuppas and slowly but surely <strike>after catching up with the latest episode of Geordie Shore</strike>&nbsp;got showered, dressed, packed up and ready for our trek to Leeds. Jade's family spent the morning looking at our pile of stuff and looking back at us as if to say "you are taking far too much" but we were adamant that we needed it all and didn't actually have <i>that</i>&nbsp;much, in comparison to what other people would be taking. Crikey o' Reilly we couldn't have been more wrong.<br /><br />We then embarked on the long trek through to Leeds, driven by Jade's mum and accompanied by her sister, while we both napped in the back. After about an hour, we arrived at Bramham Park, where we then had the mammoth task of strapping all our stuff to our backs and struggling up to our chosen campsite whilst moaning and huffing and puffing. It was at this point, we decided, we actually did have too much stuff. Nevertheless, in less than an hour, we were through all the gates, wrist-banded up and had successfully pitched our huge tent all by ourselves. I couldn't have been prouder!<br /><br />Pitching our tent and carrying all our stuff through the gates was thirsty work, so at this point, I did actually indulge in a drink or two, but they were much much needed after the venture into the camp!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ji2m8t5FKo/VAXrLhKFwgI/AAAAAAAABnk/nhbPFZQg0zo/s1600/10606069_10152417754248370_1868888522721501789_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ji2m8t5FKo/VAXrLhKFwgI/AAAAAAAABnk/nhbPFZQg0zo/s1600/10606069_10152417754248370_1868888522721501789_n.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A snapchat I sent to those who might've doubted our pitching skills!</td></tr></tbody></table>After we had got settled, we went for a walk around the park, looking at the stalls in the village and what foods were on offer, before going to get our Over 18 wristbands. During this walk, we encountered some interesting characters to say the very least and Jade came to terms with the harsh reality of the long-drops and almost had a breakdown.<br /><br />Later on, we headed back to our tent and rifled through the huge bags of shopping we'd brought to find something to eat. We decided on spaghetti hoops and bread rolls, with the help of my solid fuel stove. This was a task that we initially thought would be quite easy. Ten minutes later, we needed the fire brigade. The instructions to the stove stated to use '1-2' tablets, so I placed two on to the stove and let Jade light them. Within a few minutes flames were incredibly close to setting our tent on fire, and panic set in, we were trying like idiots to blow the flames out, only for them to get worse and then I was ready to bolt for the water point to extinguish the raging fire that had ensued. It was quite an ordeal to say the least. In the end we ended up tipping the spaghetti off the stove and covering the whole thing with a mess tin, to put the fire out. It wasn't a total disaster though, only half of the spaghetti hoops ended up on the floor.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJN6JeSatFE/VAXtAPw5SnI/AAAAAAAABn0/ZXJ_9f3rL4Q/s1600/10559748_10152417754498370_260511109268137991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sJN6JeSatFE/VAXtAPw5SnI/AAAAAAAABn0/ZXJ_9f3rL4Q/s1600/10559748_10152417754498370_260511109268137991_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The end result of our first cooking attempt!</td></tr></tbody></table>After our near-fatal cooking attempt, we went off on another walk and spent the rest of the evening, drinking our drinks whilst watching the fairground on the hill and laughing at the crazy drunk folk on the rides, before heading back to camp for a well needed sleep.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b>THURSDAY:</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><br /></span>With the first night over, we woke up and decided to head into Leeds to pick up a few things and treat ourselves to a McDonald's after our failed attempt at cooking the previous night. So we went for the shuttle bus into Leeds where we spent a few hours shopping, before our two other fellow campers joined us for the rest of the festival. Whilst in Leeds, we gorged on McD's and I also met <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/snakebitesparkles" target="_blank">Helen Melonlady</a>, a blogger and YouTuber which I'm sure many of you are familiar with. Her channel is one of my absolute favourites and despite looking like a total tramp in a dodgy 80's Oxfam jumper and muddy wellies with scratty hair, I decided to go over and ask her for a photo. She was more than happy to oblige and was as lovely as I expected, and I actually felt a little star-struck afterwards! It was a great start to the weekend.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jtPslp-SiW0/VAX1Hcp5W6I/AAAAAAAABn8/9XPFkmUQ5Yk/s1600/10629668_10152407575218370_6874360082456128544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jtPslp-SiW0/VAX1Hcp5W6I/AAAAAAAABn8/9XPFkmUQ5Yk/s1600/10629668_10152407575218370_6874360082456128544_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my most photogenic or best quality picture, but look, its Helen!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When we got back to the camp we ended up having to up-route our tent which we had done so well at pitching, because a gang of young girls had put their tents so close to ours, they were practically inside it, despite there being plenty of room around us. In a bit of a rage, we decided to move which took a fair bit of effort but thankfully it wasn't too bad and we ended up in a better spot. Especially as a Hannah Montana/High School Musical sing along later ensued, right near our original spot. It was actually a blessing in disguise, because I would not have coped being smack bang in the middle of that karaoke session.<br /><br />We spent the night chilling in our tent, listening to the hilarious conversations some of our neighbouring campers were having and laughing our heads off. We also managed to successfully use the solid fuel stove properly, meaning we wouldn't go hungry for the rest of the weekend!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0TrJfursCs/VAX1dND32CI/AAAAAAAABoE/12yuYrRksAc/s1600/10636089_10152417755238370_5785345464837994363_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_0TrJfursCs/VAX1dND32CI/AAAAAAAABoE/12yuYrRksAc/s1600/10636089_10152417755238370_5785345464837994363_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sussed it!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b>FRIDAY:</b></span><br /><br />We started our morning, by putting our faces on and daubing ourselves in UV paint, as you do. Before demolishing a few pasta mug shots and heading over to the arena for the first day of music.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roYpPY3Jf2M/VA3HKHP6GCI/AAAAAAAABqU/nHBZ_iTWclA/s1600/10647036_10152417755788370_644163567215035021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roYpPY3Jf2M/VA3HKHP6GCI/AAAAAAAABqU/nHBZ_iTWclA/s1600/10647036_10152417755788370_644163567215035021_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Jade excited on the first day of bands</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Unlike other festivals I've been to, where I've kind of gone along with everyone else's band watching agendas, this year I had my own and put myself in charge of organising who we were seeing and when. To begin with, I dragged Jade to the BBC Introducing stage where a band from my home-town were playing. While I've never seen Allusondrugs before, I knew of them and knew that they hailed from my hometown of Castleford and had been doing really well, getting gigs left right and centre, and I had generally heard a lot about them, so I decided to head over and show my support, regardless of the fact I'd never heard/seen them before. Needless to say, I really enjoyed them, I recognised a few faces in the crowd too. It was clear that the compere guy had a lot of love for the band and backed them 100% and I could easily see why. I liked their sound a lot and the crowd clearly did too. The first band of the weekend, and I wasn't disappointed.<br /><br />After their set, we headed over to main-stage for Young Guns and Papa Roach. Both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Papa Roach are one of my favourite bands, and I have seen them before at one of their own gigs, but they were astounding again this time round. Jacoby had everyone's attention and those who were familiar with their songs were singing away and it was a great atmosphere, and for me one of my favourite acts of the weekend. We stuck around for Sleeping With Sirens, who niether of us had heard of before and quite frankly don't want to hear again. It was so confusing. The singer didn't really look like he fitted with the rest of the band and his voice was somewhat baffling, Barry White one minute, Pinky and Perky the next. Not my kind of thing, and to be honest, I think Papa Roach should've had the higher slot, but that's just my own opinion, they clearly appeal to many other people, but it didn't do anything for me.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2rLu0sjr70/VAX12sY60gI/AAAAAAAABoM/GVekMOApUd0/s1600/10626661_10152417756063370_5306565760603709313_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2rLu0sjr70/VAX12sY60gI/AAAAAAAABoM/GVekMOApUd0/s1600/10626661_10152417756063370_5306565760603709313_n.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Papa Roach killing it!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A Day To Remember were the next band on the bill and although I'm not a huge fan, I do like a few of their songs and therefore wanted to see them in action. It was a good set, and unlike Sleeping With Sirens, I think they actually warranted their place in the line-up. After ADTR, was You Me At Six, who I'm not a fan of. Lots of my friends like them, but I've have never got on board. Having said that, I've seen them more than many of their fans might have, just due to the fact, they often support bands I do like, or I often stick around during their festival sets in order to get a good spot for the next band. However, luckily for me, Jade didn't mind missing them, although she is a fan, she had seen them before and wanted to go catch a glimpse of The Kooks on the NME stage instead, because her mum is a huge fan.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrV1QErnnKE/VA2oCFmT9QI/AAAAAAAABoc/gppvOsRK8pM/s1600/10410384_10152417756523370_1690675814739103580_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrV1QErnnKE/VA2oCFmT9QI/AAAAAAAABoc/gppvOsRK8pM/s1600/10410384_10152417756523370_1690675814739103580_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Day To Remember</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />So we ditched YMAS for The Kooks, and although I don't particularly like either band, The Kooks were interesting to see, as I remember their songs coming out while I was in school and it was kind of nostalgic to hear some of their songs again. After The Kooks we bolted back to main-stage for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive about. The placement of their set within the line-up baffled me somewhat, as it always does when a band or artist shoots into the limelight, despite having only a few well-known songs. However, in order to get a good viewing spot for Blink 182 afterwards, I gave them a go. Before seeing them, I was a total noob. I didn't really know any of their songs and actually thought the DJ guy was Macklemore and the rapping guy was Ryan Lewis - my bad. Despite the fact that the bass was incredibly loud and they played 'Can't Hold Us' twice, I genuinely really enjoyed their set. Macklemore engaged with the crowd massively, at one point even taking one crowd member's fur coat and wearing it himself. At times, it seems as though the rapper might be slightly vain, but then it becomes apparent that he is also not afraid to make fun of himself whilst donning a Rod Stewart style wig and dancing like a buffoon. Overall, the apprehension I felt about seeing this set quickly diminished and it was possibly one of the most fun sets of the whole weekend.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-yLR1H87-o/VA2oae0piPI/AAAAAAAABok/q_AZ2W508Jo/s1600/10629625_10152417756723370_166683282986439757_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-yLR1H87-o/VA2oae0piPI/AAAAAAAABok/q_AZ2W508Jo/s1600/10629625_10152417756723370_166683282986439757_n.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kooks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8cEh023zEs/VA2ot8lCOnI/AAAAAAAABow/FSg1Fp0NzzY/s1600/10460272_10152417756923370_1418422836503398257_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n8cEh023zEs/VA2ot8lCOnI/AAAAAAAABow/FSg1Fp0NzzY/s1600/10460272_10152417756923370_1418422836503398257_n.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macklemore in his acquired fur..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s448bV-wCfE/VA2ot_CGLGI/AAAAAAAABos/SzPs9SC9Ffs/s1600/10609699_10152417756838370_4103867027899648428_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s448bV-wCfE/VA2ot_CGLGI/AAAAAAAABos/SzPs9SC9Ffs/s1600/10609699_10152417756838370_4103867027899648428_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..And without</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span id="goog_2003185496"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As aforementioned, Blink 182 were at the top of Friday's bill. A band which defined my teenage years and a band which I am fortunate enough to have seen live three times now. I never saw them live during their hey-day but instead, after their hiatus and after they had settled their differences. Nevertheless, for me personally, Blink 182 shows have always pleased. Since returning from Leeds, it was made apparent to me that the band received a lot of criticism about their live performance at the Festival. Now even though they are one of my favourite bands, I won't lie, they are not the best in terms of their live performance, but I don't believe that anyone who goes to a Blink show expects a 100% polished performance. The attraction of seeing them live, for me anyway, is more about nostalgia and taking you back to your pre-pubescent angst ridden days but doing so in a humourous, light-hearted way. There's no doubting that their shows aren't perfectly played and executed, I think they even know that themselves, hence Tom's not so subtle habit of throwing in an inappropriate joke when he messes up or improvising crude lyrics when he forgets the real ones. But in my book, the novelty of seeing a Blink show and singing along to every song like you're still a spotty mischievous teenager much exceeds the need to see a pitch perfect and instrumentally perfect show.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2lN0zIHJCw/VA2rgLQrtzI/AAAAAAAABpA/KNfxLBIS08w/s1600/15399_10152417757203370_925040059476038829_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2lN0zIHJCw/VA2rgLQrtzI/AAAAAAAABpA/KNfxLBIS08w/s1600/15399_10152417757203370_925040059476038829_n.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blink 182 headlining</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWypJcO_Its/VA2rgJQvPKI/AAAAAAAABpE/RN7F9mCy0NA/s1600/10599450_10152417762223370_8914938056888006086_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qWypJcO_Its/VA2rgJQvPKI/AAAAAAAABpE/RN7F9mCy0NA/s1600/10599450_10152417762223370_8914938056888006086_n.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why hasn't he married me yet?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b>SATURDAY:</b></span><br /><br />Saturday began with a trip to the NME tent to sit in the sun and watch Gerard Way. I'm not by any means a fan of his really, but as a 14 year old, I was a huge My Chemical Romance fan and as I never got to see them live, I thought I'd head over and see him as the next best thing and to see what he had to offer. It was slightly surreal to see a man who hand fronted a band who headlined main stage at this festival only three years ago, opening on the second stage. He took it very much in his stride though, and loads of old MCR fans were there supporting him. I thought his songs were alright, I don't think he'll be massive but they were definitely listen-able. I loved the fact he was so open and honest saying things like "This is another one you definitely won't have heard but thank you for coming anyway and I'm sure you'll like it!" He knew people weren't familiar with him as a solo artist yet but it didn't phase him at all, he was really positive and happy and I genuinely think he's a great frontman, with band or without.<br /><br />After Gerard, we headed back to main stage to see what was occurring over there and we were faced with the noise that is Crossfaith. That was bizarre. We'd been warned that they sounded a bit crazy but had no idea. Definitely not my cup of tea and it actually threw it down during their set so luckily for us, we managed to escape and went and sat in the Festival Republic tent to chill until it brightened up a bit. After about 10 minutes, it did and we headed back over to catch Blood Red Shoes. Blood Red Shoes are a band that I recently got into and had been listening to a lot in the run up to Leeds Fest, so I was excited to see them and I was very pleased with their set. I knew a fair few of the songs that they played and even though not many people watched, I loved it. Definitely have a new found girl crush for Laura-Mary Carter after watching them,<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pMozVbfNRb8/VA2vqF24TyI/AAAAAAAABpU/k1cwpXSsvwU/s1600/10606559_10152417762503370_8196431722115619254_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pMozVbfNRb8/VA2vqF24TyI/AAAAAAAABpU/k1cwpXSsvwU/s1600/10606559_10152417762503370_8196431722115619254_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blood Red Shoes</td></tr></tbody></table>We stuck around for a bit of Deaf Havana afterwards and didn't expect to like them but they were actually alright. I'd never heard them before so wasn't sure what to expect but they were pretty decent. After them, we went over to the NME tent to catch Mallory Knox and Twin Atlantic, who I'd recently heard and liked the sound of. We did end up missing most of Mallory Knox because we found an awesome stall that sold cheese and ham toasties but they were delicious so it was kind of worth it! The bit of Mallory Knox that we caught was good and I took a bit of a shine to the singer. Twin Atlantic were great also, but having seen them a few times before, I knew they would be. Not a huge fan of theirs but I know a few songs and love the lead singer's voice. Crowd loved them and it made for a great atmosphere.<br /><br />We left Twin Atlantic slightly early to dash to main stage for Enter Shikari who I've also seen a number of times but they're a band I will always go see because I liked them a lot when I was younger. Anyone who has seen Shikari will know they go a bit crazy, Rou tends to give a few philosophical speeches in between excerpts of their songs mashed together with the wildest of sounds and mental circle pits and general carnage. Who wouldn't want to see that again and again?!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Ap9N78IfVI/VA21DTH_6PI/AAAAAAAABpk/Tga6oP5mthI/s1600/10616681_10152417763193370_9210677224472988954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Ap9N78IfVI/VA21DTH_6PI/AAAAAAAABpk/Tga6oP5mthI/s1600/10616681_10152417763193370_9210677224472988954_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enter Shikari creating chaos as per.</td></tr></tbody></table>Vampire Weekend were after Shikari and although I'm not a fan, I stuck around because I wanted a good spot for the next band. I have seen Vampire Weekend before briefly and kind of just stood there a bit embarrassingly until A-Punk, which is kind of what I did this time as well, but I did recognise a few more songs and generally did enjoy it, which I wasn't expecting. The lead singer is also somewhat adorable especially in a matching grey tracksuit. I never thought I'd find anybody adorable in a tracksuit.<br /><br />Next came the band I'd be waiting for most intentively, Queens of the Stone Age. I love QOTSA and am lucky enough to have seen them before, which is why I knew that they would be fantastic. But they even surpassed my expectations and were better second time around. Josh has such, dare I say it, 'swagger' (cringe) that even though he's old enough to be my dad and he's quite ginger, I find him incredibly attractive. I can hear the "ewww"'s echoing already. But seriously, he has such stage presence and I love it. <strike>Even though Jade said he looked like he'd fallen out of Emmerdale in his quilted coat and scarf.</strike> We were at the second barrier for their set which coincidentally, is where I was last time I saw them and I got a good view. The only thing that put a slight dampner on it for me, was the gaggle of very musically uneducated girls behind me who kept squawking "I'm only here for Paramore, this is shit, etc etc". That was of course until they spotted Hayley Williams watching Queens from the side of the stage, at which point they screeched something along the lines of "OMG OMG Hayley's there" to which I dryly replied, "Yes, that's because she likes real music." It angered me that they didn't appreciate QOTSA. Each to their own of course but they are very lucky that they left with their faces still attached, because for me, Queens were possibly one of the best bands of the whole weekend, if not <i>the </i>best. It had been raining throughout the day and the sun was setting and the sky was such an amazing shade of red at one side and grey at the other and it was just the perfect setting and the perfect atmosphere. I enjoyed it so much that I only got one photo, so you'll have to trust me on this one!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6zuD9ZEj4E/VA27TLNIwKI/AAAAAAAABp0/9DB4L__viMI/s1600/10649474_10152417763293370_1800433794656500741_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J6zuD9ZEj4E/VA27TLNIwKI/AAAAAAAABp0/9DB4L__viMI/s1600/10649474_10152417763293370_1800433794656500741_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one photo I got of QOTSA, Troy looking serious</td></tr></tbody></table><br />After Queens of the Stone Age, I was done for the <strike>weekend</strike>&nbsp;day. I've seen Paramore a number of times and so wasn't too fussed about their set. We stayed and caught a bit of their set and it wasn't at all bad, but having seen them before and not being a massive fan of theirs, we decided to get pizzas and head off back to the campsite.<br /><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><b>SUNDAY:</b></span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: large;"><br /></span>We decided to leave on Sunday night rather than Monday. Cop outs I know, but Jade had work the next day and we wanted a McDonald's and a bath (not together..). So on Sunday morning, we packed up the tent and took our stuff to the car to save ourselves a job later that night. As there wasn't really anyone we wanted to see that day until Royal Blood, we took our time and chilled a bit. We took some chairs down to the arena with us because it was a sunny day and we just fancied a comfy day by the side of the NME tent. We got there in time to catch a bit of Marmozets, who I thought were great, and from West Yorkshire, so equally great. Becca Macintyre is a crazy front-woman and the rest of the band certainly follow suit. I have seen them before and they were so mad I was a little scared! They were slightly more tame this time, but still as kickass.<br /><br />Royal Blood were next and they were a band who everyone seemed to go see. They've had massive success and loads of plays recently and I think because of that they were one of the most anticipated bands of the whole weekend. The crowd for them was huge and so was their sound. I love their music, I first heard 'Little Monster' on an advert and looked them up, only to find a select few other songs on Spotify which I loved equally as much. With only a few songs actually released, everyone has been waiting eagerly for their album to be released and shortly after Leeds Fest they released it and it shot to number one. I can only imagine that everyone has seen their sets at festivals over Summer and seen how great they are. They were definitely as good as I hoped and everyone else seemed to think so too.<br /><br />Sticking with the NME tent for the rest of the afternoon, there was only one other band I wanted to see which was Lower Than Atlantis, who I think fitted right in with the rest of the bands that day. Like Royal Blood, I'd heard one of their songs and was instantly intrigued. I enjoyed their set and then we stuck around for Cage the Elephant and Don Broco but was a little more focused on devouring the footlong hot dog and curly chips we bought rather than taking any notice of what was going on band-wise. After eating we resorted to people watching as we weren't huge fans of the bands playing at that moment in time. We definitely saw some characters, one woman was entirely on her own, entirely off her face and doing some sort of hilarious interpretive dance during Cage the Elephant which was highly entertaining.<br /><br />Later, we went over to main stage ready for Arctic Monkeys. We sat towards the back of the arena for a while as we weren't too fussed about Imagine Dragons or Jake Bugg. I actually enjoyed Imagine Dragons to say I'd not heard much from them but still just wanted to chill towards the back, so we perched up by a load of other people on their chairs and just sat back and relaxed for a bit in the sun. In between Imagine Dragons and Jake Bugg, the hilarious woman from before reappeared and had us a load of others around us, in absolute stitches with her dance to 'Ring of Fire' by Johnny Cash which was played during the break. At one point she even made us cry laughing, when she took it upon herself to sit in a spare chair which belonged to a group of women in front of us. We all just looked at each other in hysterics before a song by The Kinks came on and she bolted upright and started her comical dancing again before running down to main stage. It was arguably the funniest moment of the whole weekend, but I'm sure you had to be there.<br /><br />I've never jumped on the Jake Bugg bandwagon. I appreciate the fact that he's slightly different to other people around at the moment but I'm not a huge fan. Everyone around us seemed to really enjoy his set but for me, it sounded like one long song. I was just waiting patiently for Alex and co later on.<br /><br />Arctic Monkeys, I have to say are absolutely one of my favourite bands. Ever since my dad handed me his copy of 'Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not', I was hooked. I loved their sound, I love Yorkshire and I love everything about them <strike>other than when Alex dons those dodgy Americanisms.</strike>&nbsp;But, the first time I saw them live, in 2009, they did really disappoint me. Alex was clearly inebriated on something and generally messed it all up a bit. That might sound contradicting after what I said about Blink before, but it was an actual shambles and I was a bit peeved about the whole thing. However, since then, they've released some massive songs, various new albums and experimented with all sorts of sounds, all of which I've loved. They even partnered up with the man I spilled my feelings for earlier on, Josh Homme, which was a match made in heaven, if you ask me. After watching their Glasto set last year, I knew that they had upped their game and I didn't think they would disappoint me this time. I was 100% right. Of course Alex was a bit merry but he didn't screw up and spent the whole set declaring his love for us White Rose's. It was everything I expected and more. Everyone was singing every word, and it was a brilliant end to the whole festival. I'm so happy I can say I've seen them properly now, without being let down. AM was in my opinion, a top album and to hear some of the songs from it live, was great. Arctic Monkey's, I genuinely love you.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePDZcCgmRPg/VA3GYfjWmvI/AAAAAAAABqE/CofVr777Mw4/s1600/1560765_10152417763628370_785750061351943148_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ePDZcCgmRPg/VA3GYfjWmvI/AAAAAAAABqE/CofVr777Mw4/s1600/1560765_10152417763628370_785750061351943148_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arctic Monkeys ending the weekend in style</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1z9uFP9sIs/VA3GaSMDJII/AAAAAAAABqM/BDZmA_xtfyk/s1600/10603685_10152417764228370_8986403242183375502_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1z9uFP9sIs/VA3GaSMDJII/AAAAAAAABqM/BDZmA_xtfyk/s1600/10603685_10152417764228370_8986403242183375502_n.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just look at that silhouette!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />And that was my Leeds Fest experience. It was a great weekend and I saw some great bands and really enjoyed myself. Did not expect this post to me this long and I would be surprised if anyone actually read it all but hey, I promised it so I did it!<br /><br /><br />Aaaand breathe!Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-70055630576599725372014-08-27T22:51:00.000+01:002014-08-27T22:52:37.507+01:00Crazy few months - Graduation/Moving Out/PGCE/Holidays & FestivalsWow.<br /><br />Everything has been a little bit hectic since my last post.<br /><br />First of all, and possibly saddest of all, my university experience came to an end. On the 21st of July, I graduated from the University of Huddersfield, which was a bit of a surreal day and left me with a whole load of emotions and feelings. Firstly, happy that I'd passed and was now the proud owner of a degree, sad that my three years at uni had come and gone in the blink of an eye, scared at the prospect of making a fool of myself whilst on stage during graduation, and also scared at the fact that I had absolutely no post-graduation plans whatsoever. Nevertheless, the day came and went and it wasn't nearly as scary as I had anticipated, I didn't fall off stage, I didn't look as stupid as I thought I would, and I actually had a great deal of fun.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_1RQGtYnlxE/U_5KedJ5ECI/AAAAAAAABms/hZhVXZkOJYQ/s1600/10501675_10152617866496742_6697550288193029302_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_1RQGtYnlxE/U_5KedJ5ECI/AAAAAAAABms/hZhVXZkOJYQ/s1600/10501675_10152617866496742_6697550288193029302_n.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photograph courtesy of Shauni Hetherington via Facebook</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The day after graduation was the day I'd been dreading for months on end - moving out day. The day I had to say goodbye to the friends I'd pretty much lived with on and off for the last three years. The friends that I shared every innermost thought and deepest secret with. The friends that knew every last thing about me, right down to how I was feeling at any given moment to what I was probably thinking at any given moment. The friends that I am very rarely seen without and very rarely cope without. It was one of the most emotional days of my life, as dramatic as that might sound. It took us all weekend to move our stuff out of the flat and the sheer amount of stuff we threw away was ridiculous (so much so that the binmen had a good rummage and took out some of it for themselves!) Eventually we left our beloved home and went our own separate ways, which was devastating, but hopefully we will not be seeing the last of each other because those girls mean the world to me and I hope the feeling is mutual!<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nr-q3ctzGc/U_5MdQfGXnI/AAAAAAAABm0/5EqnKnRb1NE/s1600/10563023_10152345840373370_2593690619075819041_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nr-q3ctzGc/U_5MdQfGXnI/AAAAAAAABm0/5EqnKnRb1NE/s1600/10563023_10152345840373370_2593690619075819041_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our humble abode looking empty and downright spotless!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>So after moving out of the flat, came the big move back to Castleford - another event I'd been dreading for months. Cas is my home-town and I'm not the kind of person to forget my roots but at times it can be such a dull place, where everybody has their own little routine and many people lack ambition. Those who do have aspirations and ambitions rarely stay here, and instead venture off to nearby cities and towns with a little more to offer. That being said, the novelty of coming home to a place I grew up in, does often sound really appealling and sometimes fills me with excitement, but this novelty wears off very quickly, when I realise how mundane life round here really is.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Now as I've probably documented before, when in Castleford, I stay with my grandma, because she is the only member of the family with a room spare for me! And because it's my escape place, and a place I feel comfortable and well looked after in. My grandma and grandad do and have done an awful lot for me, so I do like spending time at their house and in their company and I'd like to think they enjoy having me here too. While staying here, I've had some epic meals and learnt a lot about my family that I never knew before and I have genuinely really enjoyed having long chats with my grandma and looking at old photos trying to decide which baby is which grandchild whilst laughing at our shocking fashion choices. The last month has had me yo-yo-ing between Castleford and Huddersfield for work, but I have actually enjoyed spending time in both places and having the best of both worlds.</div><div><br /></div><div>(See below for some of the aforementioned hilarious baby photos me and my grandma managed to unearth!)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-agup9CDLNiw/U_5PF5wU7oI/AAAAAAAABnI/mYHioHXtRyY/s1600/10304800_10152421826073370_5508967710056009818_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-agup9CDLNiw/U_5PF5wU7oI/AAAAAAAABnI/mYHioHXtRyY/s1600/10304800_10152421826073370_5508967710056009818_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QE3oV9e0Ay4/U_5PF8I-HwI/AAAAAAAABm8/NPI4RrIPRSc/s1600/10562984_10152421827013370_3695671609536887221_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QE3oV9e0Ay4/U_5PF8I-HwI/AAAAAAAABm8/NPI4RrIPRSc/s1600/10562984_10152421827013370_3695671609536887221_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMC9PdECpNY/U_5PMKr0jyI/AAAAAAAABnU/P1kp60rqbdI/s1600/10593166_10152420540713370_377397087252751134_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMC9PdECpNY/U_5PMKr0jyI/AAAAAAAABnU/P1kp60rqbdI/s1600/10593166_10152420540713370_377397087252751134_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>However, my time dipping between Castleford and Huddersfield is about to come to an end, because I will be moving back to the Hudd next week for another year of studying, only this time for a PGCE (Post-graduate Certificate of Education.) During the last two months, I applied for a place on a Further Education PGCE, because I had no idea what I really wanted to do with my degree and the only real career I had ever toyed with was the prospect of being a teacher. Everyone who knows me, knows just how much I relish the opportunity to check over other people's pieces of work, offering better ways to word sentences and ideas to improve whatever the project might be. This combined with my knowledge of Media Studies, could potentially be my ideal job. With this in mind, I applied for a place on a PGCE course at my former university and with no experience and little confidence in myself, I honestly didn't think I would even be considered for a second, let alone given an interview. But, obviously, I was, and I can't even describe how nervous I was for the interview, in which I had to give a presentation (something I don't exactly excel at!) But I bit the bullet, and threw myself into the interview whole-heartedly, and am so proud of myself because it meant I was successful and will be starting the course within the next month. I am incredibly excited for this next chapter and can't wait to get stuck in.</div><div><br /></div><div>As if all of the above wasn't chaotic enough, I have also been on a holiday with my family and even spent last weekend at Leeds Festival, which I am planning on writing a post about, very soon. July and August have been hectic to say the least, hence my distinct lack of posts. I won't make any promises about having lots of posts to come, because in a fortnight I start my course, which I have been warned, is pretty full on. But I will definitely be posting about my Leeds Fest experience before I go AWOL again.</div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-13432985783436636882014-07-11T11:53:00.001+01:002014-07-11T11:59:22.990+01:00Baaad Baaad BloggerI have a confession to make; I've cheated on my blog.<br /><br />One of the reasons I've been absent lately is that during the last two weeks or so, my boyfriend went to Glastonbury and I was left in charge of his blog. His blog is more of a diary style blog, on which he posts everyday and so I vowed to keep up with it while he was away.<br /><br />I did not anticipate how hard it would be to do daily blogs! I was on holiday in Scarborough at the time and while I did loads of cool stuff, I found it really hard to do interesting blogs every single day. And for that reason, I took a bit of a blogging break.<br /><br />Usually after a Scarborough trip, I do a lengthy blog about what I've been up to, complete with a few pictures, but that's basically what I did, only over on Jud's blog instead, and I did it more to cater for his blog rather than mine. But by all means, to read those posts, follow <a href="http://elgeorgio1.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">this link</a>&nbsp;and read from about 24th to the 30th of June.<br /><br />In other news, I got my uni results back a few weeks ago and am pleased to say I'll be graduating a week on Monday with a 2:1 in Media and Popular Culture! I am incredibly nervous for graduation and absolutely convinced that I'll do something ridiculous like lose my hat, trip up or have my gown tucked in my knickers, but hey I suppose at least I'll be remembered right?<br /><br />The next week is going to be pretty emotional. Got all my C7 gang coming back for their graduation and to move everything properly out of the flat that we've lived in for two years. Some of them have already moved out but are coming to stay next week so that we can party, and reminisce and probably cry a lot too. I am so close to these girls that I am genuinely going to be lost without them, so I fully expect that I'll be a quivering mess this time next week.<br /><br />Having said all this, I have decided on my next move. I am applying for a PGCE in teaching for further education at the minute and while I'm super excited at the prospect of coming back to Huddersfield and studying something new and different, I also don't want to get my hopes up too much, because I don't want to jinx myself. If all goes to plan, I'll be back in Hudds in September and hopefully my friends can come and visit all the time, and I'll be closer to my boyfriend and my best friend who is currently off travelling but will be back in September. So yeah, fingers crossed for me!<br /><br />That's pretty much an update of what's been occurring and why I've left my lovely blog in the lurch for a few weeks. (That and the fact I haven't really been shopping and therefore don't have anything to show off!) But hopefully, once next week has passed, I'll have plenty of blogging time, because I'll be back in Castleford and bored out of my tree.<br /><br />So that's something to look forward to....or not!<br /><br />Oh and before I forget, I'm trying to get rid of loads of stuff so that my grandma doesn't flip when I arrive with a million boxes of my belongings to store at her's over Summer. So check out <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/terri-leigh123/m.html?_nkw&amp;_armrs=1&amp;_ipg&amp;_from" target="_blank">this link to my Ebay</a>, as I'm getting rid of loads of clothes at the minute.Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-73885341146238642582014-06-05T13:30:00.002+01:002014-06-05T13:30:50.818+01:00Recent purchases and bargain buys<div style="text-align: justify;">Payday showed its beautiful face last week and in my book, that means only one thing - shopping!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I headed off to town with one of my best friends and fellow shopaholic, Jade and spent far too much money on clothes as per usual.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Unfortunately it wasn't a successful shopping trip for me because I made the rookie error of not trying things on before buying them and therefore got home to find nothing fit me! However, after a second trip and a few exchanges, I now have a few new purchases that I am super happy with!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table style="text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MvF6rdUWa9M/U5BZXL1p2fI/AAAAAAAABks/sY345c_-0QU/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MvF6rdUWa9M/U5BZXL1p2fI/AAAAAAAABks/sY345c_-0QU/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG" height="320" width="209" /></a></div><br /></td><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfRDLdvP_Cg/U5BZXFqe1MI/AAAAAAAABko/KVhnWAI67KM/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfRDLdvP_Cg/U5BZXFqe1MI/AAAAAAAABko/KVhnWAI67KM/s1600/Untitled.png" height="320" width="174" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">My absolute favourite buy has to be these Leigh Super Soft Skinny Jeans from Topshop. I never really shop in Topshop, because I feel that it's one of the more expensive high street fashion retailers and I rarely have any money so I tend to steer clear. That's not to say I don't love their clothes, I've never had any problems with anything I have bought from there, I just can't afford to do it very often! However, we headed in for a browse and ended up picking up a whole host of jeans to try on in the fitting rooms.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Generally I have issues with jeans, because I can never find any that fit me soundly. I am quite a slim person, and during my adolescence, the only shape I had was that of a stick. I had no shape and was incredibly thin for years, but then all of a sudden I finally gained hips and am now still a slim person, only with an abnormally large derrierè. For this reason I struggle with jeans and the only place I've found that sell jeans which do fit me nicely is, H&amp;M. But, since we had plenty of time, I thought I'd grab a few different styles in Topshop and see which ones did me favours and which ones didn't.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of all the styles I tried, I found that the best were the Leigh range. The pair I tried on were incredibly comfortable, looked good, fit me well and left me plenty of room to eat as much as I would in a pair of leggings and not feel like I'd been cut in half. With this in mind, I scouted round the shop for other styles in the same range and came across this pair, which I am in love with. I have worn them to death this last week and can safely say that even though they were about £34 with student discount, they are definitely one of my soundest investments.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table style="text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G8Q0PSzhR_k/U5Bci3KrNBI/AAAAAAAABlA/xGHecKeu2FI/s1600/IMG_1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G8Q0PSzhR_k/U5Bci3KrNBI/AAAAAAAABlA/xGHecKeu2FI/s1600/IMG_1729.JPG" height="320" width="254" /></a></div></td><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-inWJE04eYjg/U5BcizTTnhI/AAAAAAAABk8/ROJwQMINKnI/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-inWJE04eYjg/U5BcizTTnhI/AAAAAAAABk8/ROJwQMINKnI/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" height="320" width="200" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To go with my new b-e-a-utiful jeans, I picked up two cami style tops from H&amp;M. The one on the left is probably my favourite, it has a beautiful floral pattern and has buttons up the front and a racer style back. I'm not massive on floral but I love the print on this. The second one, on the right is very me. It is a simple cami with a black and white chevron style print and I love it. I love this style of vest at the minute and they look great with a good pair of jeans. I think both of these were around £9.99 in H&amp;M.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table style="text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1DtjPCUef8/U5Bdgq_3XWI/AAAAAAAABlM/d4rUPU0zaQI/s1600/IMG_1734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1DtjPCUef8/U5Bdgq_3XWI/AAAAAAAABlM/d4rUPU0zaQI/s1600/IMG_1734.JPG" height="320" width="209" /></a></div><br /></td><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ePcUfIHGn_0/U5BdhWyzSzI/AAAAAAAABlQ/wtZTTMam6Uc/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ePcUfIHGn_0/U5BdhWyzSzI/AAAAAAAABlQ/wtZTTMam6Uc/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Keeping with H&amp;M, on my first shopping trip I bought this dress in a size 8 because although I am usually a 10 or 12, this style of smock dress is a bigger fit and since there were no other sizes, I thought I'd see if I could get away with an 8. This did not happen, I got stuck in the dress. I was gutted, I'd fallen in love with the boho paisley print and style of this dress and when I realised I couldn't even get my arms through it, I could've wept. I headed back to H&amp;M yesterday to exchange the dress and could've wept again because out of nowhere, there was now a 14. Even though it wasn't a 10 or 12, I needed to own this dress, so I tried the 14 on in the fitting rooms and beamed from ear to ear to find it fit almost perfectly. I am so happy about this and can't wait to wear it. I love smock dresses and now I am on the look out for more in the same style. This dress was £14.99 and well worth it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16lgDWbwsss/U5BfHafJTYI/AAAAAAAABlg/SKuTdyuKuTI/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-16lgDWbwsss/U5BfHafJTYI/AAAAAAAABlg/SKuTdyuKuTI/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" height="287" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another recent purchase I am obsessed with are these flat velvet chelsea boots from ASOS. I am severely lacking in decent shoes and all I ever wear are Converse or Vans and therefore was in dire need of something I could wear with all the pretty dresses I seem to be acquiring lately. I did have a pair of creepers which doubled as ankle boots as my go to dressy shoe, but they are starting to fail me and need replacing. I started looking online for something similar, something cool but dressy, and actually came across a few styles that I liked, but these ASOS boots came out on top. They were £35 and another solid investment, allowing me to ditch my scruffy sneaks in favour of something a little more prim and proper. (But not too much, it is me we're talking about...!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Last but by no means least on my list of recent purchases: Scrunchies. Yes they're back in fashion, yes they cost twice as much as they did in the 90s and yes everyone and their mum are wearing them, but I don't care, I'm all over this! I seem to be hoarding scrunchies since I jumped back on the bandwagon and have acquired quite a collection. They are so much more comfier than a regular hair elastic and don't rip my head apart when I've had them in all day for work. Pretty and practical, that's what we like. Here are a few of the ones I've bought recently. Coloured, tartan, velvet, you name it, I'll buy it!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mhf7lAnSxnQ/U5BhKinTXpI/AAAAAAAABls/OiIi8EbJ5zc/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mhf7lAnSxnQ/U5BhKinTXpI/AAAAAAAABls/OiIi8EbJ5zc/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" height="320" width="292" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And those are all my recent bargains and buys, I love this type of post so feel free to link me your own recent hauls!</div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-25370328396789588432014-05-29T12:49:00.002+01:002014-06-05T13:34:31.276+01:00Crafty Obsession - Cross StitchingA while ago, after seeing lots of cute pictures online, I decided I wanted to take up cross-stitching. I mentioned it a few times to friends and family but never actually got round to it because I didn't have a clue where to start or what to do.<br /><br />That's when one of my best friends took it upon herself to make me this cute little Cross Stitch Starter Kit, to keep me busy while my flatmates went home for Christmas.<br /><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3WXsYDCcVyU/U4cZpIX8GQI/AAAAAAAABjM/meVieLETe0A/s1600/1515010_10151922283713370_847928814_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3WXsYDCcVyU/U4cZpIX8GQI/AAAAAAAABjM/meVieLETe0A/s1600/1515010_10151922283713370_847928814_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B_D6DN2rW1o/U4caWEA4J6I/AAAAAAAABjQ/RXyew-lpDcE/s1600/1558407_10151959811248370_205479461_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B_D6DN2rW1o/U4caWEA4J6I/AAAAAAAABjQ/RXyew-lpDcE/s1600/1558407_10151959811248370_205479461_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table>I completed the stitch in about a week and my obsession with cross-stitching grew from there. Obviously, I had a lot of uni work to do this year, so I stitched in dribs and drabs, but since finishing uni a few weeks ago, I have spent nearly all of my spare time stitching away.<br /><br />I love how cute and intricate stitches look when they're finished and while I am by no means an expert, I really enjoy doing them. I still have to get to grips with cleaning the back up and find a way to not get agitated when stitching large blocks of colour, but other than that I am loving cross-stitching.<br /><br />Here are a few I've been working on lately, and remember: don't judge, I'm still very much a beginner!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xaHyZLVVbgE/U4ccEye6lvI/AAAAAAAABjw/jvR1q5GZb5o/s1600/9845_10151991557008370_163640967_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xaHyZLVVbgE/U4ccEye6lvI/AAAAAAAABjw/jvR1q5GZb5o/s1600/9845_10151991557008370_163640967_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bit of an amateur one. but Jake the dog from Adventure Time</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EdiFeEJ9Os/U4ccD3KG4hI/AAAAAAAABjo/1OGZ3jfSpLw/s1600/1005935_10151984205398370_1185821232_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8EdiFeEJ9Os/U4ccD3KG4hI/AAAAAAAABjo/1OGZ3jfSpLw/s1600/1005935_10151984205398370_1185821232_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute little owl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy65e-pTDOU/U4ccEA9zuXI/AAAAAAAABkA/qRJnuqVS5pw/s1600/10305434_10152209633603370_5689661144146084846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yy65e-pTDOU/U4ccEA9zuXI/AAAAAAAABkA/qRJnuqVS5pw/s1600/10305434_10152209633603370_5689661144146084846_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A project I'm currently working on, The Powerpuff Girls (Note Spice World on in the background)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onljAVYyKwk/U4ccEDCeP6I/AAAAAAAABjk/vaGZAE_iL5s/s1600/10348205_10152233327093370_8068797998660129583_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onljAVYyKwk/U4ccEDCeP6I/AAAAAAAABjk/vaGZAE_iL5s/s1600/10348205_10152233327093370_8068797998660129583_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday present for my mum, quite proud of this one!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBJBi_pwllM/U4ccEsCWhYI/AAAAAAAABjs/R-EvRkOyM34/s1600/10408043_10152228550888370_690564588078158086_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gBJBi_pwllM/U4ccEsCWhYI/AAAAAAAABjs/R-EvRkOyM34/s1600/10408043_10152228550888370_690564588078158086_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seal inspired housewarming gift for my boyfriend and his uni pals</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1sPlCdJ-Gc/U4ccb3KnqkI/AAAAAAAABkM/7lThEpI38Lo/s1600/1939748_10152610020606102_943377197_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1sPlCdJ-Gc/U4ccb3KnqkI/AAAAAAAABkM/7lThEpI38Lo/s1600/1939748_10152610020606102_943377197_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stitch I did for my Guinness-loving friend for her birthday earlier this year</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lwuzFcZaNmc/U5Bjt7CjJ6I/AAAAAAAABl4/HZjJa4LbhEk/s1600/IMG_1697%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lwuzFcZaNmc/U5Bjt7CjJ6I/AAAAAAAABl4/HZjJa4LbhEk/s1600/IMG_1697%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And lastly, one I did for myself!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />In accordance with my recent stitching obsession, I also took it to another level and spent a good three hours organising my skeins of stitching thread into this nice, neat little box:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1UnTQM_wdU/U4ceIgCiIKI/AAAAAAAABkY/6RDkWXKCOjw/s1600/10390426_10152232815208370_3577909080137596874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1UnTQM_wdU/U4ceIgCiIKI/AAAAAAAABkY/6RDkWXKCOjw/s1600/10390426_10152232815208370_3577909080137596874_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><br />As sad as that is....I love it!Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-51156875654837136302014-05-26T12:47:00.002+01:002014-05-26T12:47:48.714+01:00Trend Envy - Ethnic and Tribal vibes<div style="text-align: center;">The ethnic and tribal trend is something I've been loving for a while, and is currently featuring heavily in all our favourite stores. I decided to take some inspiration from the fact that one of my best friends is about to go travelling and put together a collage of my favourite ethnic-inspired fashions out there at the moment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrVEaLLptqQ/U4MoIxuiZ0I/AAAAAAAABi4/iPEGip75APM/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YrVEaLLptqQ/U4MoIxuiZ0I/AAAAAAAABi4/iPEGip75APM/s1600/Untitled.png" height="425" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.riverisland.com/women/dresses/day--t-shirt-dresses/Red-tribal-print-sleeveless-smock-dress-651757" target="_blank">1</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/cream-ethnic-stripe-sleeveless-dress_298892613" target="_blank">2</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jewellery-and-hair-accessories/gold-and-blue-beaded-triangle-necklace-_308621499" target="_blank">3</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.riverisland.com/women/t-shirts--vests--sweats/print-t-shirts--vests/Blue-fluro-tribal-print-racer-front-crop-top-655731" target="_blank">4</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5762462450031&amp;parentid=WOMENS-JEWELLERY-WATCHES-EU" target="_blank">5</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5769461483355&amp;parentid=WOMENS-JEWELLERY-WATCHES-EU" target="_blank">6</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5758425480154&amp;parentid=WOMENS-ACCESSORIES-EU" target="_blank">7</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/uk/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=5312423501000&amp;parentid=WOMENS-HOLIDAY-SHOP-EU" target="_blank">8</a></div></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-11506330867917088682014-05-24T13:29:00.001+01:002014-05-24T14:10:36.613+01:00Causing chaos on the Corrie cobbles (23/05/2014 - Coronation Street: The Tour) [Picture heavy post!]<div style="text-align: center;">--- May contain spoilers for those of you who are yet to go! ---</div><br />I'm not sure if it's something I've mentioned on my blog before, but anybody who knows me or at least spends any time with me, will know that I am an avid soap opera geek. As sad as it is, soaps are very much a constant in my life and I fully place the blame for this with my mother. Ever since I was a little 'un, I remember my mum dashing around like a maniac at tea-time, trying to get her last bits of ironing done or trying to bath her squadron of kids before 7pm chimed and the anthemic drone of Emmerdale's theme-tune rang through the house. From then, until 9pm, (depending on what day it was) it was time to sit down, shut up, and tune in to soap after soap before heading off to bed the minute the last one ended. Those two hours were very much my mum's downtime. Growing up, this nightly regime never changed. Even now when I go home for a few nights, its exactly the same routine every night and since moving to university, I have adopted the same routine, and have even trained my flatmates to adopt it too.<br /><br />Now obviously, the big three soaps in the UK are Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Eastenders and those are the ones I primarily watch. I can't get my head around the fascination with Hollyoaks and personally don't find it a viewing necessity as opposed to the other three. These are the ones I grew up watching, and while I enjoy all three, Coronation Street is my absolute favourite. I don't know what it is that I love about Corrie, I think I just really enjoy the fact that its a Northern, humble, working-class soap and constantly reminds me of my own street back home. It's history is fascinating and it is, in my opinion one of Britain's best TV shows.<br /><br />Due to my love and fascination for the show, I actually wrote my final university dissertation on it, earlier this year, in which I explored the notion that Corrie is considered a national institution. I talked about aspects of the show that have kept viewers gripped for nearly 54 years, from the characters, the storylines, the history, the worldwide fandom and the factors that resonate heavily with its audiences. Writing and researching this piece, meant that I had to read a plethora of books written by ex-producers, archivists and cast and crew members in order to build my knowledge of the programme. Doing this just strengthened my love for Coronation Street and everything about it and therefore when they announced the news that they were opening the old set for visitors, I could've squealed with excitement.<br /><br />I rallied up my flatmates and fellow corrie companions and we bought tickets to Coronation Street: The Tour, as a little treat for when our work was handed in and our exams finished. Our tour took place on 23/05/2014 and this is how the day unfolded....<br /><br />As the tour was in Manchester, we set off pretty early to meet our old flatmate, Hannah who coincidentally lives in Manchester herself. We headed for dinner before jumping on a shuttle-bus which took us almost directly to the tour. From the moment I woke up, I was extremely giddy, probably more-so than anyone else in our gang. This escalated pretty quickly once we arrived through the gates into the old Granada complex.<br /><br />We met our tour guide at 3pm, and she geed up our little group, which was in hindsight a little bit cringey but definitely worked nonetheless. She was clearly a fan of the soap herself and certainly knew her Corrie stuff. To begin, we visited the old cast green room which was really exciting. The tour guide told us stories of how the cast hung out in there before takes and showed us the cast pigeon holes and filming schedules which made it clear just how real it all was. All I could think was I wonder who has been sat in this very same chair, over the years and who had liased in the room I was sitting in.<br /><br />The guide told us a few facts in the green room before we headed down the 'Corrie-dor of stars' where the cast dressing rooms were situated. Some of the dressing rooms were open for us to see and it was funny to see how each room was decorated slightly different and adorned with little trinkets depicting their owner's character and personality. Along the corridor were huge pictures of the cast, past and present and lots of stills from memorable episodes, creating a real cast presence.<br /><br />At the end of the corridor, we turned into the costume department, which held some of the characters most recognised outfits. Among these were Emily's blouses, Carla's wedding dress and an abundance of props such as pink cowboy hats and tiaras, which screamed Cilla or Becky. To the left of this, was a dressing table with wigs, make up, hair sprays and beauty products. At this point the tour guide asked for a volunteer to sit in the cast's make-up chair, and with everyone clearly too shy to co-operate, I took it upon myself to be the guinea pig. I am actually quite an embarrassment and its surprising that I have friends. But secretly I enjoyed it!<br /><br />After this, we went and watched a montage of clips from the last 50+ years which was actually really emotional. It started with dramatic and serious clips which had me and Hannah weeping, and then ended with some of the show's best comical moments and witty one-liners which had us in stitches. It was a great way to show the programme in all its glory and got us excited for the next stage.<br /><br />Once the montage was over, we headed into Stage One, which was where the dressed sets were situated. Firstly we saw Carla Barlow's old flat before she moved in with Peter. On TV, I loved her flat, but I have to say, in real life it is rather garish! An abundance of prints and fiery red shades made up her abode and the tour guide talked us through the design of her upmarket flat. It was fascinating to see it there in all its glory and we couldn't believe how well the floors were painted on and that the appliances in the sets actually work and are in fact PAT tested. Next we saw Gail's or rather David's home and I was most surprised to see that they had a copy of Calendar Girls on DVD under their TV. Our guide told us a few anecdotes and stories before we moved on to the next set.<br /><br />This was another emotional moment for me (wow I need help). The next set was the Rovers, which most people will know, is the street's local pub. The doors of the set opened and it was so surreal to see it in real life. It was just as it appears on TV, only much much smaller. We grabbed a booth like Emily, Norris and Rita and sat on the edge of our seats as we waited patiently to get our picture taken behind the bar. I literally wanted to stay there all day and re-enact scenes and play barmaids, all I wanted to do was dive over the bar like Becky once did to hurl a punch at Jason. While in the Rovers, I also had a nosey at the jukebox and was extremely pleased to see McFly on there!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HFw8XTu99g/U4CQMkDnD4I/AAAAAAAABiY/fgTV8WCQXTM/s1600/corrie2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HFw8XTu99g/U4CQMkDnD4I/AAAAAAAABiY/fgTV8WCQXTM/s1600/corrie2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Us behind the Rovers bar (I definitely think it suits me!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We then saw a few other sets such as Underworld, Jack and Vera's/Tyrone and Fizz's, Martha's Barge, and a lot of memorable props and outfits such as Rita's wedding dress, Hilda's rollers, the statue that Tracy whacked Charlie Stubbs with, and even a cabinet full of past awards such as BAFTA's, NTA's and Soap awards.<br /><br />After this, we he<span style="font-family: inherit;">aded to the pièce de résistance - the street itself. The tour guide did a very amusing countdown before hitting a button which cued the Corrie themetune and opened the doors to the famous cobbles. At which point, I cried...again. We hit the cobbles and I literally took advantage of every photo&nbsp;</span><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">opportunity possible, getting snaps outside nearly every house and business. I was so happy to see the 'Dennis Tanner 1951' inscribed into the window ledge of number 11 and for me, that was one of the highlights, because I know that not many other people know that its there, but once I took a snap with it, many other visitors did the same, which made me happy. Getting pictures outside number 11 was great for me, as one of my most favourite characters of all time, is Elsie Tanner, who lived there for many years. I think its now Eileen's home, or hostel as it sometimes appears, full of strays and waifs! It was great to be able to go round the corner and see Barlow's Buys, Roy's Rolls and even go down the illicit back ginnel behind all the houses and hear the voices of Hilda and Stan and Jack and Vera bellowing down the alley.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2YhX08mXwg/U4CDKoV9bKI/AAAAAAAABgI/snMeCWBH5Ac/s1600/Fotor052410564.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t2YhX08mXwg/U4CDKoV9bKI/AAAAAAAABgI/snMeCWBH5Ac/s1600/Fotor052410564.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with Graeme's old window cleaning bike / Coronation and Rosamund Street signs / Me and my pals outside the Rovers (Oh how I wish that licensee plate had my name on it!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1LlmpJBkeQ/U4CDKmGPjuI/AAAAAAAABgA/gjFcHgupuZE/s1600/Fotor0524110159.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P1LlmpJBkeQ/U4CDKmGPjuI/AAAAAAAABgA/gjFcHgupuZE/s1600/Fotor0524110159.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selfie with the street / Roy's snowman from Christmas last year</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVX-NynVLu4/U4CDKjY3MUI/AAAAAAAABgE/Yn3eCm8ujds/s1600/Fotor0524110343.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MVX-NynVLu4/U4CDKjY3MUI/AAAAAAAABgE/Yn3eCm8ujds/s1600/Fotor0524110343.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Underworld sign / Our feet on the cobbles / The Kabin, Kev's garage and Underworld</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sB37Eohx95I/U4CEQZrjfMI/AAAAAAAABhY/fVdBgmT5u4M/s1600/1908305_10152490812454595_4622484912507542944_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sB37Eohx95I/U4CEQZrjfMI/AAAAAAAABhY/fVdBgmT5u4M/s1600/1908305_10152490812454595_4622484912507542944_n.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div></td><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6qi4KlJlDo/U4CEMFpAyoI/AAAAAAAABgg/Rp5SR1PIZGM/s1600/10342951_10152490810104595_4341341126175344976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b6qi4KlJlDo/U4CEMFpAyoI/AAAAAAAABgg/Rp5SR1PIZGM/s1600/10342951_10152490810104595_4341341126175344976_n.jpg" height="400" width="267" />&nbsp;</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDOKoCEKz5Y/U4CEMNcfduI/AAAAAAAABgo/rnwieKZ0x-o/s1600/10300216_10152490813149595_7818321610048989526_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDOKoCEKz5Y/U4CEMNcfduI/AAAAAAAABgo/rnwieKZ0x-o/s1600/10300216_10152490813149595_7818321610048989526_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chilling outside Streetcars</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jdItoCEzj4/U4CEMIsLHoI/AAAAAAAABgY/PXF5m5f53bs/s1600/10314657_10152490809424595_2708816759847828447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0jdItoCEzj4/U4CEMIsLHoI/AAAAAAAABgY/PXF5m5f53bs/s1600/10314657_10152490809424595_2708816759847828447_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Propping up the Rovers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dScePMqWq10/U4CEM0GmbfI/AAAAAAAABgs/gwup-LcMWEI/s1600/10366174_10152490813894595_7175097755242623856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dScePMqWq10/U4CEM0GmbfI/AAAAAAAABgs/gwup-LcMWEI/s1600/10366174_10152490813894595_7175097755242623856_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot of us outside Roy's Rolls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20N4_bpOBOw/U4CEN_HITRI/AAAAAAAABho/UoDNfpiUIG8/s1600/10375910_10152809172551102_7285052539658013312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20N4_bpOBOw/U4CEN_HITRI/AAAAAAAABho/UoDNfpiUIG8/s1600/10375910_10152809172551102_7285052539658013312_n.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extremely excited before we went in</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8cMtq_iQNg/U4CEPcg3VoI/AAAAAAAABhQ/xuTBJvCivrA/s1600/10414917_10152490808339595_4402541519324283562_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S8cMtq_iQNg/U4CEPcg3VoI/AAAAAAAABhQ/xuTBJvCivrA/s1600/10414917_10152490808339595_4402541519324283562_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dennis Tanner's inscription on the window ledge of number 11</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ku9IpwUEodg/U4CEO_xqMfI/AAAAAAAABhI/ZuMicsYeKk8/s1600/10384615_10152490806394595_7970428983405296175_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ku9IpwUEodg/U4CEO_xqMfI/AAAAAAAABhI/ZuMicsYeKk8/s1600/10384615_10152490806394595_7970428983405296175_n.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group picture outside Nick's Bistro</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6NU1fAFOtM/U4CERYkX0tI/AAAAAAAABhs/YCvoeMvsByE/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6NU1fAFOtM/U4CERYkX0tI/AAAAAAAABhs/YCvoeMvsByE/s1600/IMG_1575.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a>&nbsp;</td><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-722r1-1ojcI/U4CEM3oRmQI/AAAAAAAABh8/QXj8Of1Pm0M/s1600/10366034_10152490808659595_2489166865833848270_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-722r1-1ojcI/U4CEM3oRmQI/AAAAAAAABh8/QXj8Of1Pm0M/s1600/10366034_10152490808659595_2489166865833848270_n.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5k4Z8Vp-t0/U4CEOkRc2II/AAAAAAAABhM/KBNL1ZaAyr0/s1600/10382821_10152490809124595_6264591920837399811_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5k4Z8Vp-t0/U4CEOkRc2II/AAAAAAAABhM/KBNL1ZaAyr0/s1600/10382821_10152490809124595_6264591920837399811_n.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a>&nbsp;</td><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udl03Jq1D_I/U4CEQslK8iI/AAAAAAAABhc/F18UIqfOp94/s1600/1958278_10152490814074595_1632915874287227413_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udl03Jq1D_I/U4CEQslK8iI/AAAAAAAABhc/F18UIqfOp94/s1600/1958278_10152490814074595_1632915874287227413_n.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Knocking at number 11 / Outside the Barlow's / Me on the cobbles</span></div><br />We were pretty much allowed free roam on the street and could stay there as long as we liked, and I reckon we were probably on the street for a good hour or more. After this I went and spent an unprecedented amount of money in the gift-shop which had lots of little trinkets and souvenirs and was where we could collect our Rovers pictures. I bought a Hilda Ogden shopper bag, a postcard, a pen, two keyrings, a t-shirt and god knows what else but I loved being able to get keepsakes because it was such a great day out. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--NQg7ab2NPo/U4CEVMGH_II/AAAAAAAABiQ/QreV0AROD84/s1600/IMG_1642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--NQg7ab2NPo/U4CEVMGH_II/AAAAAAAABiQ/QreV0AROD84/s1600/IMG_1642.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My goodies from the gift-shop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />All in all, I had an awesome day. The tour was around £16 and I think its an absolute bargain to walk the cobbles and step onto a national institution. The tour guides and team organising the tour were friendly, knowledgeable and made it a great experience and therefore I would totally recommend visiting the tour before it closes for good later this year. <br /><br />Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-63495543017859759352014-05-19T19:10:00.000+01:002014-05-19T19:10:35.144+01:00Leaving university - What on Earth do I do now? (This could be incredibly boring)As many of you may be aware, for the last three years I have been a student at the University of Huddersfield, where I have been studying Media and Popular Culture. It has been the most stressful, enjoyable and memorable three years of my life so far and less than a fortnight ago, I handed in my last ever piece of work.<div><br /></div><div>As I imagined, this filled me with so many emotions. I was relieved that I no longer have any essays or projects looming, happy that I could finally have lots of naps and lie ins without feeling guilty and also in the back of my mind, scared that I have absolutely no plans for the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>To be honest, I have just enjoyed my freedom for the last week or so, but now it's starting to hit home that I don't have a plan. The reason I chose to study Media and Popular Culture was because I enjoyed all things media-related (TV, film, music etc) and wanted to delve further into the history and workings of the industry. Initially I had no idea what I wanted to do, and felt that a broad course would help me in that department as it would allow me to explore many things rather than restricting myself with a specific, specialist course.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Having said this, three years later, I still feel exactly the same. I have enjoyed aspects of my course and disliked others, but I am still no wiser as to what career I'd like to fulfill and the only thing I know is that I want to write. If only it were that simple. A degree in a media-related discipline + A love for writing = Journalist - Right? Wrong. That is something I have decided strictly against. I don't like the idea of snooping into peoples business and writing in a strict, boring style where adjectives are frowned upon. I like writing, but I like writing about things I'm passionate about, or failing that, writing things to which I can add character and life. I know that is considered an immature view because allegedly the only way you will get opportunities like that is to work your way up career ladders, but unlike many people on courses similar to mine, I just don't have any interest in that profession.</div><div><br /></div><div>At times I think I may have studied the wrong course and would've benefited more from a degree in something such as Creative Writing or Script Writing. But that's extremely hypothetical and something I can't change. Plus a degree is a degree and therefore whatever the discipline, a degree will hold good stead in any profession. However, the question remains - What on Earth do I do next?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, in short I have no idea. I don't even &nbsp;have a home sorted yet which is something that fills me with dread and fear on a daily basis. I honestly have no idea what my plan is, other than to get a transfer and carry on working at my part-time job to save up plenty of money so that when I do get an idea in my head, money won't necessarily be a problem. I wish I could carry on cross-stitching and blogging and not having a care in the world like I have for the last few days, but unfortunately, that won't pay the bills! Who would've thought that leaving university would be as stressful as being at university?!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm aware how boring this post may be in comparison with my others but I needed a good old whinge!</div><div>Don't worry though, I've got a post up my sleeve for Friday/Saturday that will be epic and definitely picture heavy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Feel free to share your own graduation/leaving university blues and we can all wallow in self pity together. Or, if you do have a kickass plan for after uni, share it with me and inspire me to do something with my life!</div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-49785505440300785672014-05-08T14:02:00.001+01:002014-05-08T23:07:45.296+01:00McBusted @ Leeds 30/04/2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">--- May contain spoilers for those of you who are yet to go! ---</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you read my blogs on a regular basis you will probably know that one of my biggest obsessions and guilty pleasures is McFly. I've been part of the McFly army since the beginning and even though I get flack for it all the time, I am not ashamed to say I adore them. Everyone had a favourite band growing up that defined who they were and and consumed their adolescence, and as cheesy as they may be, McFly are mine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyone who pays attention to the media will probably realise that last year, McFly announced that they were uniting with James Bourne and Matt Willis of Busted fame for a tour concentrating on the biggest hits of both bands. Now this announcement was met with excitement and also apprehension for me. This was firstly because a McFly tour excites me, no matter what the circumstances are, but the apprehension was mainly because I wasn't actually a massive Busted fan. I didn't dislike Busted, I just wasn't as obsessed with them as many others in my school were. However, I do love a lot of their songs and often bounce around like a lunatic when Year 3000 comes on in Camel Club. Having said this, I was also a little apprehensive because I was all ready and waiting for McFly to release their 6th album and all of a sudden this was put on the back-burner to make way for McBusted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Regardless of my mixed emotions I bought tickets for their show at Leeds First Direct Arena and I was far from disappointed. The show was awesome. As promised it was a mish-mash of McFly and Busted hits to date and it was fun, nostalgic and downright beautiful! The chemistry between them all is clear and it makes for a really great show. There were some memorable moments during the gig, from their entrance in a Back to the Future style Delorean, to their synchronised kicking and chasing each other round the stage to the three huge inflatable boobs that emerged for Year 3000 - the production values were fab. This was the first time I'd visited this venue and its amazing, it's so different to other venues and it's layout is so unique. Although that meant our date missed out on one aspect of their show, it didn't phase me massively, because I still enjoyed it. The only thing I would've wished for would be a few more McFly hits, or maybe just one or two older, less popular songs for those of us who have been there from the start. But overall, it was awesome, a real feel-good, happy event and I can't wait to go see them again at Scarborough Open Air next month.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I went to the gig with two of my best friends and we also enjoyed some wine, hearty food and boozy cocktails before the show at TGI's, which was also great fun. Check out some of the pics I took of our antics below and you're heading to see McBusted, I hope you enjoy just as much as we did!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tjU2kL54L3o/U2t_uE3TlbI/AAAAAAAABeI/ldXHYAaWias/s1600/Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tjU2kL54L3o/U2t_uE3TlbI/AAAAAAAABeI/ldXHYAaWias/s1600/Collage.jpg" height="640" width="529" /></a></div><br /><table><tbody><tr><td><br /></td><td><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-40971391184626440742014-05-07T18:58:00.001+01:002014-05-07T18:58:29.861+01:00A few favourites and recent purchasesAs promised, I'm back on the blogging wagon and I thought the best way to ease back into things would be to do a little (or not so little) review of my recent loan weekend purchases.<br /><br />The main products I've been buying have been from Boots. Boots is quite possibly one of my biggest vices, it's honestly quite dangerous for me to go in there, and you're about to see why.<br /><br />Firstly, let's talk about nail polishes, because I seem to have bought loads. The first one I purchased was this one from No7's Gel Look Shine Range. No7 is a brand I usually stay away from, mainly because I don't usually have any money, but if I did, I'd definitely splash out more. This brand is great, its like a rival to Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine range, but both do the job equally in my opinion. It glides on nicely and doesn't lose its sheen and pearlescence once it's on. This is the shade, Galaxy<i> </i>and I think it's around £7, but there was a 3 for 2 offer on when I bought this one.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmA1XhTsvhM/U2pfKt1IvoI/AAAAAAAABbU/umX0G9NbKw4/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+00+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VmA1XhTsvhM/U2pfKt1IvoI/AAAAAAAABbU/umX0G9NbKw4/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+00+31.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No7 Gel Look Shine in Galaxy</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Keeping with No7, I also bought another of their polishes a few weeks ago, from the same Gel Look Shine range. This one is a top coat but is something I've been looking for, for a while. I wanted a top coat that left me with a high shine, no matter what colour was underneath. I was longing for Barry M to bring out a top coat in their Gelly Hi-Shine range, but then I came across No7's own version and was extremely pleased. It does exactly what I wanted and since using it, I've had lots of comments on the shininess of my nails. Again, I think this one was also around £7.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lN5QUV8gGBI/U2ph6SI7mNI/AAAAAAAABbg/rWQnHSS2xkc/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+00+60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lN5QUV8gGBI/U2ph6SI7mNI/AAAAAAAABbg/rWQnHSS2xkc/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+00+60.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No7 Gel Look Shine top coat</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Whilst in Boots, it occurred to me that although I have an abundance of nail polishes in all different shades and colours, I didn't actually possess an electric blue colour. Naturally, I rectified this, in the form of Barry M's Blue Grape, from their Gelly Hi-Shine range. I was dubious about trying the colour because I tend to stay within my comfort zone of dark colours such as blacks, reds, burgundys and purples, but I went for it regardless. The colour is beautiful and I'm glad I bought it, I also had compliments wearing this shade. I think these are the usual £3.99 to £4 in Boots.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXNjtuIxcJw/U2poM2eWWeI/AAAAAAAABbw/PYeFWGdHU40/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+59+33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXNjtuIxcJw/U2poM2eWWeI/AAAAAAAABbw/PYeFWGdHU40/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+59+33.jpg" height="320" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Blue Grape</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br />Another brand I've been buying a lot of lately is Sally Hansen. The nail range is brilliant, for anyone who is obsessed with nail painting. I bought two nail polishes from her range, the first being the Hard as Nails polish, which is a strengthener that I generally use under polishes, but have also used it on top for extra strength too. The second Sally Hansen polish I bought was the Insta-Dri. I wasn't sure if this polish would work, or whether it would just leave my nails feeling tacky but I was pleasantly surprised. Both these polishes are ones that I highly recommend to keep nails as strong as possible and also just to save time for those that are impatient like me when it comes to waiting for nails to dry.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6b3vuvoImkU/U2prviI7RdI/AAAAAAAABcA/YvtrEYsfPGk/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+00+59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6b3vuvoImkU/U2prviI7RdI/AAAAAAAABcA/YvtrEYsfPGk/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+00+59.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vx_xluO_io8/U2prvSRmNGI/AAAAAAAABb8/zzeaAcN2q2c/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+59+57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vx_xluO_io8/U2prvSRmNGI/AAAAAAAABb8/zzeaAcN2q2c/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+59+57.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div><br /><br />Moving out of the nail polish area, I also bought two lipsticks from Boots. The first of these was the Maybelline Colour Sensational lipstick in 547 Pleasure Me Red. I could've squealed with excitement when I found this because I've been looking for a deep, dark red shade for ages and this was exactly the shade I wanted. I love the colour of this lipstick and the texture, but the only thing I would say is that I found it didn't stay on as long as I'd like. Luckily I use Lipcote, so I can rectify this somewhat, but that would be my only flaw with it. I believe this was around £7.99 in Boots.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cYO1j5Kx5K0/U2ptUN_FdSI/AAAAAAAABcU/UoohYY4zVtY/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+06+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cYO1j5Kx5K0/U2ptUN_FdSI/AAAAAAAABcU/UoohYY4zVtY/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+06+31.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOdk6Taopvo/U2ptW3jXqBI/AAAAAAAABcc/vd8637RBXGo/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+08+30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YOdk6Taopvo/U2ptW3jXqBI/AAAAAAAABcc/vd8637RBXGo/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+15+08+30.jpg" height="320" width="307" /></a></div><br /><br />The second polish I bought was Revlon Super Lustrous in 663 Va Va Violet. This is beautiful dark purple shade, which I love. I'm a fan of purple lipsticks anyway, but this one is a deep, rich shade and is possibly my new favourite lipstick. Like the last lipstick mentioned, this one also didn't appear to stay on for a long time, but again, this is easily fixed by a coat of Lipcote. This was £7.49 in Boots.<br /><br />The last two things I want to mention aren't beauty products but are two things I'm in love with. Firstly, a pair of flatform open toe wedges from Primark. I just can't walk in high-heeled shoes and for that reason try to stick to wedges for nights out so these are perfect for me. I already have a pair of flatfoms from Primark, but they're slightly different and have a closed toe as opposed to these ones. Of course it means I'll have to shun the tights and brave getting my pins out but I can live with that because I adore these shoes. They were £10 in Primark and look beautiful with freshly painted nails.<br /><br />The final thing is a dress I recently purchased from Ebay. Its a River Island dress and the RRP was £35 but I bagged it, brand new with tags on Ebay for £16 (not including postage). I was over the moon when I won this because I'd seen it a while ago, only with tartan instead of leopard print. I love the fact that its a midi dress, meaning I don't feel too uncomfortable going tight-less and the black panels down the side are incredibly slimming. I strutted around the flat feeling fabulous when it arrived and I can't wait to wear it on a night out with the shoes as well!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zvw52dkcbbQ/U2pzixQlFFI/AAAAAAAABco/W0sgrsWJqfA/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+48+32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zvw52dkcbbQ/U2pzixQlFFI/AAAAAAAABco/W0sgrsWJqfA/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+48+32.jpg" height="320" width="215" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2ca4RNaiEU/U2pzlPEI_VI/AAAAAAAABcw/s16ZTzDGR9s/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+48+49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2ca4RNaiEU/U2pzlPEI_VI/AAAAAAAABcw/s16ZTzDGR9s/s1600/Photo+07-05-2014+14+48+49.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div><br /><br />If anyone else has been taking advantage of loan day, I'd love to read a haul/review of some of the things you've been buying, so feel free to leave me your links :)</div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-86599853126713237162014-05-07T10:58:00.000+01:002014-05-07T10:58:43.898+01:00As predicted, final year held me hostage!Wow. I knew I hadn't blogged in a fair while, but I had no idea it was all the way back in December. I feel ashamed!<br /><br />New Years Eve was when I posted my last entry, and that is just crazy, but as documented a few times over the last year, university has had me well and truly whipped. Final year has been chaos, the minute I think 'phew my work is handed in', I have to make a start on the next and for that reason I have been incredibly busy, all year.<br /><br />However, this is my final deadline week, when the last two pieces of my uni work will be handed in. This is both scary and awesome at the same time. I do not want to go in to the big, wide world anytime soon, I love the student life! But, now the end is nigh, at least I can focus more on the things I enjoy - blogging, partying and cross-stitching. (Party on Wayne...)<br /><br />So in short, expect a few more posts from today forth. I have been dying to get back into the blogging seat, because I am sick of writing boring essays! Plus, my student loan flourished into my decrepit bank account on Friday so I've been splurging at Boots and various other places and can't wait to report back with a few favourites and reviews.<br /><br />Back with a vengeance - yay!Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-23676843311777218302013-12-31T21:36:00.002+00:002013-12-31T21:38:14.791+00:00Slowly creeping into 2014...As its New Years Eve and I'm home alone with no plans (sad), I'm going to take this opportunity to do a little blog reflecting on the past year and looking forward into 2014.<br /><div><br /></div><div>To be honest, 2013 hasn't been significantly good <i>or</i> bad. It started out alright and has had its ups and downs but generally it hasn't been anything to write home about. I have had some awesome times in Huddersfield this year, and some extremely stressful ones too. From epic nights out, to chilled nights in, gigs with friends and gigs with my boyfriend, I have made some really great memories this year. But towards the end of the year, I have also been incredibly stressed and at times, a nightmare to deal with, due to the demanding workload and stresses of final year.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is probably the most cliche thing I've ever said but I guess in some ways, 2013 has been a year of change. Both my boyfriend and one of my closest friends moved out of Huddersfield this year which was initially quite daunting and really hard for me to get used to. The thought of having these two no longer within arms reach was really hard to comprehend at first and I for one, did not like it! However, they didn't just get fed up of me, they actually both left to pursue their placement years and I am very proud of both of them. My boyfriend moved to Leeds at the beginning of the year which upset me a bit but he managed to get himself a cracking placement within the university, meaning I still get to see him a hell of a lot as he is always in and out of Huddersfield. He seems to be enjoying the placement overall and it has given him some great experience and opportunities which is fantastic and I am really happy for him. My friend, Hannah, moved back home for her placement year and has had two placements up to now, both of which have been extremely beneficial and the opportunities she has been given from both have been phenomenal and I am super proud of her and even though it absolutely sucks that she no longer lives with us and I cried my eyes out when she left, I am so happy that her placement year is proving to be so valuable and worth while.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone around me seemed to be so focused and driven this year, that I, personally had a minor breakdown. For ages I found myself thinking "What the hell am I actually doing with my life?", and "Why aren't I as successful and switched on as everyone else?" Obviously I am still in university and working towards a degree but to be completely honest, I still don't have the foggiest idea what I want to do with my life after uni. There are so many people that I see in uni everyday that seem so mature, ambitious and focused and know exactly where they want to be in five years time. Whereas I still feel like a teenager and am no wiser as to what I want to do, than I was when I first started uni, which is a little worrying. I still have a huge passion for writing but that does not necessarily mean I want to be a journalist, as I just don't have any interest in nitty gritty and edgy stories, I much prefer light-hearted things. I also have no ambition to pursue a career in PR, like many other people in my degree area, as I don't have the self-confidence, charisma or ballsiness required to be a success in that area. I find it hard to put myself out there and talk to people I don't know or people I might be intimidated by, which causes me great problems in uni, as I am often expected to interview or approach random people. I experience a lot of anxiety when it comes to this sort of thing and tend to put things off, which I have found to be a huge setback this year, as it stops me from reaching my full potential with assignments. This is the main reason behind the lower parts of this year and because of this, I have decided to give myself some resolutions for 2014. Now I know that resolutions are there to be broken and I will no doubt forget about them, but I am going to give them a try anyway.</div><div><br /></div><div>2014 is the year I (hopefully) will graduate from uni and although that is a massive achievement, it also leaves me feeling quite sad as it means I have to join the real world and stop living the student dream. I honestly believe that I will be on a huge downer after graduating because I have loved just about every minute of uni life. I have met the best friends in the world and I can't even cope over the Christmas holidays without them all, so god knows what I will be like when we all leave for good. They better get the Prozac ready cause I will definitely need them come July 2014! There has been talk of me potentially getting a flat with Jade, one of my uni friends, after we graduate but that involves a lot of saving up, so we will have to see what this year brings and hopefully we can make it happen, but if not, I hope we will all definitely still keep in touch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Until then though, I am going to try my best to get through the next few months without too many stresses. To do this, I aim to:</div><div><br /></div><div>- Take control with my assignments and don't let myself get so easily distracted</div><div>- Try my best to grab opportunities by the balls instead of being scared and anxious in certain situations (easier said than done!)</div><div>- Spend less and give myself a weekly budget (also easier said than done!)</div><div>- Stay out of other people's business</div><div>- Enjoy my last few months as a student</div><div><br /></div><div>This post had a lot more feels than I initially anticipated but hey ho, I'm going with it! I hope everyone has a much more eventful New Years Eve than me, and I hope your resolutions stay in tact longer than mine probably will!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy new year!</div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-824856611106058772013-12-11T11:43:00.001+00:002013-12-11T11:49:14.969+00:00Christmas preparations at C7!<div style="text-align: center;">Its getting super festive in my flat at the moment, so I thought I'd share some of our Christmas preparations on my blog.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">We've had our Christmas tree up for a few weeks now (it was a welcome essay distraction!) and I for one, don't want to take it down after Christmas is over. Its so pretty! The angel on top is pretty special too, as we acquired a 'make your own angel kit' in first year from Wilkinsons and have had that same angel on our tree for 3 years now. She's sentimental!</div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PyoW0Dl6YMw/Uqcp3Q8sXxI/AAAAAAAABZg/m6rQzOuSfCc/s1600/Fotor1210143453.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PyoW0Dl6YMw/Uqcp3Q8sXxI/AAAAAAAABZg/m6rQzOuSfCc/s400/Fotor1210143453.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've got other Christmas decorations dotted around the flat, as you can see below. Giant glitter snowflakes, paper snowflakes, paper chains, fairy lights and home-made Christmas cards are adorning our humble abode at the minute!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXi3vTAxw1o/UqhQkOXGzxI/AAAAAAAABaU/BTZQ5DPyjC4/s1600/Fotor1210143340.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXi3vTAxw1o/UqhQkOXGzxI/AAAAAAAABaU/BTZQ5DPyjC4/s400/Fotor1210143340.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8XYPW8Lb-I/UqhQkDCop-I/AAAAAAAABaY/HicqzmecYvk/s1600/Fotor1210144522.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u8XYPW8Lb-I/UqhQkDCop-I/AAAAAAAABaY/HicqzmecYvk/s400/Fotor1210144522.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">We also stayed up til 1AM one night and made some lovely salt-dough Christmas decorations...as you do.</div><div style="text-align: center;">You can find recipes/instructions online to make these but we simply used 2 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of water and 1 cup of salt. Then all you do is mix it up as you would any other dough, give it a good kneading and roll it out ready to cut out your shapes. Once this is done, you can either pop them into the oven until they are solid or leave them out overnight to harden, before painting them and adding decoration. They make great presents or sentimental family Christmas tree ornaments.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ours are yet to be painted but they are already looking adorable!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1lh-2ssqf8/UqhQs7hkCWI/AAAAAAAABao/8V4HN8JSveA/s1600/Fotor1210143711.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1lh-2ssqf8/UqhQs7hkCWI/AAAAAAAABao/8V4HN8JSveA/s400/Fotor1210143711.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-858j66RfNM8/UqhQsrELV3I/AAAAAAAABak/4sMvtGz1bFA/s1600/Fotor1210143955.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-858j66RfNM8/UqhQsrELV3I/AAAAAAAABak/4sMvtGz1bFA/s400/Fotor1210143955.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Definitely getting excited about Christmas now. Can't wait to spend some time with my family, stuffing my face with some festive foods, lounging about to the likes of Elf and The Grinch and enjoying the home comforts of a nice bubble bath and a comfy sofa.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feel free to leave links to your own Christmas posts, I'm intrigued to see how other people are getting into the festive spirit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9183343846524434894.post-77583700778572600722013-11-22T21:46:00.000+00:002013-11-22T21:51:46.638+00:00Crikey, third year is NOT a walk in the park...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBJ16_kgW2w/Uo_QbI9tqaI/AAAAAAAABZI/tymFgeKEtrg/s1600/2013-11-22+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBJ16_kgW2w/Uo_QbI9tqaI/AAAAAAAABZI/tymFgeKEtrg/s320/2013-11-22+21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Wow, the last few weeks have been a rollercoaster. Slowly but surely, I am starting to realise just how difficult final year is. With the sudden realisation of just how little time there is left in uni and an array of deadlines creeping up, my head has been quite a mess.<br /><br />Earlier this month I noticed just how little time I had to do so much work and it really freaked me out. Having said this, I didn't exactly jump into work mode, but instead spent time doing fun things with my flatmates or failing that, lazing around not doing much at all. Its hard to find the right balance in third year for work and social activities, especially when you are dreading leaving university and therefore want to spend every last minute enjoying yourself. Because of this, I started to leave a lot of important things til the very last minute.<br /><br />While we might be getting nearer to Christmas, we are also getting closer and closer to deadlines, meaning I am currently in panic mode. Over the last few weeks, it has dawned on me just how much time I've been wasting and because of that, my stress levels have been through the roof. Due to the stress of upcoming deadlines and the fact that I found myself doing a module that was completely and utterly out of my comfort zone, I was feeling very overwhelmed. For the first time in three years, everything got a little too much and I actually wanted to leave it behind and go home, which is something extremely out of the blue for me.<br /><br />After a minor mental breakdown and a bit of crying in various tutors offices, I decided to drop the module that was causing me issues and change to something that I am actually interested in and have quite a passion for. I also decided it was time to knuckle down and try to get some work done on the essays that have deadlines lurking around the corner.<br /><br />It never occurred to me that I would feel so down and to be honest, depressed, with uni, but I think once in a while, every student has a bit of a rough patch and becomes unexpectedly overwhelmed with what is expected of them. I'm happy to say that the rough patch has gone and I am now feeling much better.<br /><br />My tutors and some of my coursemates were very reassuring and told me that they've been in the same boat, which made me feel a lot better and less pathetic for crying in the first place! It felt as though everything was getting on top of me, but since then I have took control, made a start on some things and generally been more positive.<br /><br />I don't really know what I'm aiming for by writing this in my blog but I know I've been a bit absent in writing for a while and to some extent this is why. I'm sure there are many other student bloggers who have felt similar or many who have just started their studies and will at some point. So I guess this post could help them in some way.<br />The morals of the story in short are:<br /><br /><ul><li>&nbsp;Don't let things get ahead of you, take control</li><li>&nbsp;If you need to cry at someone, then don't feel daft, just let it out, everyone gets stressed from time to time</li><li>And more importantly if you do feel like this, don't let it hinder your university experience because its just a very small bump in the road of what is otherwise a fantastic journey and adventure.</li></ul><br />So with all that in mind, I should get off my blog and do some more quote-hunting and research (Fun!)<br /><br />Before I do though, I should probably mention my boyfriend in this.<br />He recently got the urge to jump on the blogging bandwagon and decided to start a blog and post something everyday. I initially teased him for stealing my turf but to be honest he has kept up with it pretty good so far and actually posted more recently than me! He doesn't have a specific topic or subject area, its just a diary entry style blog, but he's committed to it and it will definitely be interesting to read back over everything in a few months time. So why not check out his blog <a href="http://elgeorgio1.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;and maybe give him a follow? Go easy though, he's new to this!<br /><br />To anyone with upcoming uni deadlines, good luck!<br />And to the rest of you, you don't know how bloody lucky you are!Terrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06631198707180834064noreply@blogger.com1